Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to tritium shunt heat exchangers that use a sweep gas. In some aspects, a heat exchanger system for a fusion power plant is disclosed herein. The system may advantageously allow for efficient energy and tritium extraction from a tritium-containing fluid, while minimizing tritium leakage into the environment. For example, the system may comprise components, such as a thermally conductive solid connector, a sweep gas, reactive materials, etc., that allow for high heat transfer efficiency, and/or high tritium removal and extraction efficiency. In addition, some aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods for using or making such a system.

Abstract: Described is a partitioned cable joint comprising a plurality of physically distributed joint elements with the plurality of joint elements taken together defining a joint length. Joint elements may have a first mounting region having a shape selected to accept one petal of superconducting cable and a second mounting region having a shape selected to accept one petal of a second conductor.

Abstract: A high capacity current lead (10) comprises components that are electrically coupled using indium joints. The current lead includes a heat exchanger having a portion at room temperature (100) and a portion (200) within a vacuum cryostat. The room-temperature portion is temperature controlled against both overheating and over-cooling. The cryogenic portion (200) of the heat exchanger is electrically coupled to a coolant boiling chamber (300) using indium joints. The boiling chamber (300) has a lid and a base that may be electrically coupled using indium joints, or they may be brazed. The boiling chamber (300) is surrounded by a vacuum lid that may be electrically coupled to the base using indium joints, or brazed. The base is electrically coupled to a superconductor module (400) having high-temperature superconductor (HTS) tapes for conveying current to a device, such as a superconducting electromagnet.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, structures and techniques for metal filling an open channel (12) in a baseplate (19). In embodiments, metal filling of an open baseplate channel is achieved using vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI). In embodiments, a compression plate (14a) is disposed over an open baseplate channel (12) to be filled with a molten metal. In embodiments, gaskets (97) are disposed between the compression plate (14a) and a surface of the baseplate (10) proximate the baseplate channel (12). In embodiments, a channel cap (26) is disposed over the open channel. In embodiments, the channel cap (26) has a solder flow channel (29, 32) provided in a surface thereof. In the embodiments, the solder flow channel (29, 32) has a meandering shape. In embodiments, a solder flow channel (29, 32?) is provided in the compression plate (14a) and/or the baseplate (10).

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically removing and replacing components, including a vacuum vessel, from a tokamak. The inventors have recognized that schemes for automatically removing and replacing components from a tokamak should preferably be simple (e.g., using proven equipment to perform a series of non-mechanically complex tasks) and have a very low risk of damaging components. Techniques described herein may include splitting a tokamak into multiple pieces, separating the pieces, and removing the now separate pieces of the vacuum vessel from within the pieces of the tokamak. A new vacuum vessel can be inserted in multiple pieces and the tokamak rejoined to complete the replacement process.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically removing and replacing components, including a vacuum vessel, from a tokamak. The inventors have recognized that schemes for automatically removing and replacing components from a tokamak should preferably be simple (e.g., using proven equipment to perform a series of non-mechanically complex tasks) and have a very low risk of damaging components. Techniques described herein may include splitting a tokamak into multiple pieces, separating the pieces, and removing the now separate pieces of the vacuum vessel from within the pieces of the tokamak. A new vacuum vessel can be inserted in multiple pieces and the tokamak rejoined to complete the replacement process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing optical annealing of an optical fiber disposed in a cryogenic environment subject to ionizing radiation, such as in a fusion energy source, are provided. The techniques include optically annealing the optical fiber using first light having a first peak wavelength and second light having a second peak wavelength different than the first peak wavelength. The first and second peak wavelengths may be selected to optically anneal defects associated with transient radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) and permanent RIA.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for quality control of a superconducting tape including (a) at least two rolls contacting the superconducting tape and being suitable for injecting an electric current into the superconducting tape; (b) at least two measuring contacts contacting the superconducting tape and being suitable for measuring an electric voltage along the superconducting tape; and (c) a cooling section suitable for cooling the superconducting tape below its critical temperature, where the at least two rolls and the at least two measuring contacts are located inside the cooling section, and where the cooling section is suitable for keeping the rolls at a first temperature and the measuring contacts at a second temperature, where the first temperature is lower than the second temperature.

Abstract: Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.

Abstract: A wind turbine generator includes a stator having a plurality of high-temperature superconducting coils. A current is driven through the high-temperature superconducting coils to produce a magnetic field. A rotor comprising one or more phase coils is physically coupled to a wind turbine. As the wind turbine turns the rotor, current is induced in the one or more phase coils to produce electrical power. The phase coils may include conductive material, superconducting material, and/or high-temperature superconducting material.

Abstract: A magnet system and method of operating may be used in connection with operating a superconducting electromagnet, for example in a tokamak. The magnet system includes a coil having windings retained within a non-insulated structure, so that current can pass both along the windings to generate a magnetic field, and between the windings. The amount of current passing through the coil is trimmed using a bypass circuit, coupled in parallel to the coil terminals. The bypass circuit is controlled on the basis of measurements of the field components to divert current from passing through the field coil. In this way, the magnetic fields of each of multiple field coils can be brought into mutual uniformity.

Abstract: Described are cable joints and related structures and techniques for coupling high temperature superconducting (HTS) cables. A cable joint includes a conductive member having a length which defines the length of the joint and having first and second mounting regions shaped to accept first and second HTS cable with an interface layer comprised of a malleable metal disposed between a surfaces of the first and second mounting regions and surfaces of the first and second HTS cables.

Abstract: Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.

Abstract: A method includes inserting a high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable into a groove of a support structure; and flowing a molten metal into the HTS cable while the HTS cable is in the groove. A magnet structure includes a support structure having a groove; and a high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable comprising a metal at least partially filling the HTS cable, the HTS cable being disposed in the groove.

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are described for designing non-insulated (NI) high temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets that mitigate problems that may arise during quench initiation and propagation. Coupling the HTS material to a co-conductor along its length reduces the effective resistance of the conductive path along the HTS material when it is not superconducting, and that this leads to numerous advantages for quench mitigation.

Abstract: Structures and methods enable emergency or rapid shutdown of an energized no-insulation (NI) superconducting magnet, without damage due to thermal effects of a quench. A resistive bypass wire is coupled between electrical terminals of the magnet coil, and does not pass significant current during normal magnet operation. When rapid shutdown is required, the bypass wire is cooled below its critical temperature, adding a superconducting current path in parallel with the magnet coil. A portion of the coil is then heated above its critical temperature, interrupting current flow through the coil. Hot spots near the coil leads are mitigated through the use of a conductive structure, such as copper cladding, that carries away excess heat due to the quench. This heat may be deposited in a resistive matrix, such as a steel plate, over a duration of seconds and without compromising other magnet design parameters.

Abstract: Described is a cable comprising a plurality of high temperature superconductor (HTS) components, a plurality of electrically conductive segments extending along a length of the cable, each of the plurality of electrically conductive segments comprising one of the plurality of HTS components, and an electrically insulating material arranged between adjacent ones of the plurality of electrically conductive segments.

Abstract: Schemes are described for conductor and coolant placement in stacked-plate superconducting magnets, including arranging coolant channels and conducting channels within the plates on opposing faces. If the two types of channels are aligned with one another across the plate stacks, the plates may be stacked such that the cooling channel in one plate is adjacent to the conducting channel of the neighboring plate. By stacking a number of these plates, therefore, cooling may be supplied to each conducting channel through the cooling channels of each neighboring plate. Moreover, by aligning the two types of channels, the stacks of plates may have improved mechanical strength because mechanical load paths through the entire stack that do not pass through any of the channels may be created. This arrangement of channels may produce a very strong stack of plates that can withstand high Lorentz loads.

Abstract: Techniques are described for delivering a metered flow of tritium gas to a fusion power system at a constant (or substantially constant) flow without feedback control being necessary, and while allowing all (or almost all) of the tritium in a reservoir to be delivered to the system. A constant pressure (isobaric) tritium injection system is described comprising a process chamber, at least part of which is flexible, and a regulating chamber arranged adjacent to the process chamber. Tritium in the process chamber may be pushed out of the injection system by managing the pressure of a regulating gas in the regulating chamber. As the pressure of the regulating gas increases, this causes the process chamber to be compressed due to the flexible portion(s) of the process chamber, thereby increasing the pressure of the tritium gas.

Abstract: Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.