First results of the Italian national program on superconducting MHD magnets technology

The paper illustrates the activities developed in the frame of the Progetto Finalizzato “Superconducting and Cryogenic Technologies: superconducting magnets for MHD”. The main objectives of the research activities are: the design and the construction of a superconducting prototype magnet (2 m active length), and the reference design of a superconducting demonstrative magnet (8 m active length), both for MHD applications. The magnets are designed to produce a 5 T on axis field with 5% and 10% field uniformity in the cross section respectively, and with a field taper less than 0.15 T/m. The design and construction of high field superconducting magnets based on A15 materials is also developed. The study of commercial size MHD superconducting magnets (16 m active length), and the conceptual design of superconducting magnets for disk MHD generators are also included in the frame of the project