Design, Fabrication and Testing of an HTS Magnet and Flow Cooling System for Space-Based Applications

A team comprised of the Tai-Yang Research Company, Creare, Inc., and the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory at NASA has designed, fabricated and tested a high-temperature superconducting magnet and flow cooling system for a space propulsion application. The magnet bore is 16 cm dia., 5.5 cm long, and generates 0.5 T, with a design operating current of 126 A. The magnet is wound with brass laminated 1 G BSCCO conductor, epoxy impregnated, then thermally connected to a flow cooling loop with a compressor, recuperator and GM cryocooler. Flow conditions are selected to simulate operation with a space proven turbo-Brayton cryocooler. This test demonstrates that design and integration of an HTS magnet with flow cooling is feasible, and offers the advantages of compactness, low weight, high efficiency and high reliability. Design details of the magnet and cooling system and results of successful system qualification tests are reported.