High-temperature superconductor for France

Nexans has won an order from France's DGA to supply a high-temperature superconductor coil capable of storing 500kJ of electrical power and releasing it within a fraction of a second.

Nexans has won an order from France's DGA (Delegation Generale pour l'Armement) to supply a high-temperature superconductor coil capable of storing 500kJ of electrical power and releasing it within a fraction of a second.

The HTS coil will provide the heart of a prototype superconducting magnetic energy storage system (SMES) that can be used to stabilise a power distribution network or to energise electrical devices.

The SMES combines the technology of energy storage by magnetic induction - which allows an energy density of several million joules per cubic metre to be attained - with the use of superconducting materials which, thanks to their zero electrical resistance, enables this energy to be stored over long periods of time with minimal loss.

The coil will be manufactured from HTS (high-temperature superconductor) tapes developed by Nexans at its Jeumont site in France The required service temperature of -250C will be obtained through a cryogenic refrigerator, eliminating the need to use liquefied gases.

The coil and the cryogenic part will be designed in collaboration with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of Grenoble.

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