Design Considerations for High-Energy Density SMES

Abstract

SMES (superconducting magnetic energy storage) is a promising technology for pulse power current source, and especially as an alternative to capacitor banks to supply electromagnetic launchers (EML). Nevertheless, they have low specific energy. Taking advantage of new possibilities offered by impressive performances of second generation high-temperature superconductors (HTS) tapes in liquid helium, the BOSSE (Bobine Supraconductrice pour le Stockage d'Energie) project has the objective to build a 1 MJ SMES with high energy density. Reflection begun about maximizing specific energy has led us to think about high-performance SMES and balance of contradictory objectives in the design of SMES dedicated to EML supply. Requirements for such an application are very high and multiparameter study would be necessary to integrate an SMES in an EML supply chain. A calculation method is therefore proposed, aiming for fast estimation of SMES properties on a large set of topologies. Some elements about design of BOSSE SMES are also presented.