Elaboration of a 100-kA Class HTS REBCO Rutherford Cable for High-Field Applications

The second-generation high-temperature superconducting REBCO coated conductors with very high critical current density under high fields exhibit considerable potential for ultra-high-field applications, including accelerator magnets, high-field magnets for thermonuclear fusion reactors, and MRI machines. However, the current carrying capacity of a single-strip REBCO coated conductor, typically ranging from 600 A to 1000 A at 4.2 K, 20 T, is generally insufficient to fulfill the requirements exceeding 40 kA, 20 T for conductors employed in these applications. A qualified REBCO cabling method that enhances current-carrying capacity and reduces AC losses is generally essential to bridge the existing gap. This article introduces a 100-kA class REBCO Rutherford cable, which offers advantages in high current-carrying capacity, low AC loss characteristics, and robust mechanical behavior. The current-carrying capacity, magnetic behavior, and AC loss characteristics of the REBCO Rutherford cable were evaluated using a bench-marked two-dimensional axisymmetric electro-thermal-mechanical coupling model based on finite element methods. The comparative evaluation of its current-carrying capacity and AC loss characteristics shows that it has a current-carrying capacity of 100 kA at 4.2 K, self-field. In addition, AC losses in the REBCO Rutherford cable are estimated to be lower within the scope of REBCO cables, suggesting significant potential for high-field applications, especially for the central solenoid coils of high-field thermonuclear fusion reactors.