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ASG Superconductors has developed techniques for designing and constructing open cryogen free MRI magnets, which are refrigerated by two double stage cryocoolers only. An open cryogen free 0.5 T Mg[B.sub.2] MRI magnet is designed, built and tested by allowing the acquisition of images.

A three-year research project, called DRYSMES 4GRID, was recently funded by the Italian Minister of Economic Development, Italy. The project, which involves five Italian partners (companies, universities, and research institutes), is aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of cost-competitive SMES based on magnesium diboride (MgB2 ) with a cryogen-free cooling bymeans of the manufacturing and the testing of a demonstrator with an objective rating of 500 kJ/200 kW. This rating is deemed suitable for disclosing the critical technological aspects of all components in view of practical applications. A further goal of the project is the assessment of the technical and economic benefits that the SMES can bring to real-world electric grids. The general outline and technical objectives of the project are presented in this paper. Preliminary design assumptions and results concerning the MgB2 coil and the power condition system are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical currents of several configurations of MgB2 conductors from Columbus Superconductors SpA were characterized under high magnetic fields. The measurements were performed at LNCMI Grenoble at a temperature of 4.2 K and under a magnetic field ranging from 3 up to 8 T. The characterization of the different configurations takes into account different parameters, such as the filling factor, number of filaments, shape, and type of matrix. Moreover, in order to define the minimum bending radius, the different samples were prebent at room temperature on different diameters (from 50 to 400 mm) and then straightened again before being tested. This work investigates the critical current density Jc, engineering current density Je, and the influence of bending strain over the critical current. The different samples are compared according to their critical current densities, engineering densities, and bending strain tolerances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Super B is an asymmetric energy e^+e^- collider operating at the \Upsilon(4S) peak (\sqrts\sim 10.58\ GeV) to be built in Italy, with a design peak luminosity of 10^36\ Hz/cm^2. In order to get the required high luminosity, a novel collision scheme, the so called “large Piwinski angle and crab waist”, has been designed. This scheme requires that two doublets of high gradient superconducting quadrupoles (denominated in the Super B naming scheme as QD0 and QF1) are placed as close as possible to the interaction point. This layout is critical because the space allowed to the doublets is very small. An advanced design of the quadrupole has been developed, based on the so-called helical coil concept. The paper discusses the design and construction concept of a model of the superconducting quadrupole based on NbTi technology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Following a dedicated R&D program, ASG Superconductors has recently developed techniques for designing and constructing open cryogen free Mill magnets, refrigerated by two double stage cryocoolers only. The magnet consists of two coils both made with six double pancakes, each double pancake being obtained reacting and winding 1600 m of multifilamentary, copper-stabilized MgB2 tape supplied by Columbus Super. conductors. Here we report the thermal and electromagnetic characterization and the achieved targets of the first prototype, evaluated on a long term activity period. The MRI images, acquired starting from November 2006, further demonstrate the accomplishment of remarkable magnet performances. in parallel to the long term tests on the first prototype, ASG Superconductors has designed and constructed a second MRI magnet with improved characteristics. We present here the related test results and a comparison with the previous ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In spite of the relatively short time dedicated to the development of magnesium diboride conductors since its discovery in early 2001, a substantial improvement was soon achieved in their manufacture and use. Unlike many others HTS and LTS materials, the MgB2 conductor processing is more open to a number of improvements and modifications that help in making it more attractive for several DC and AC applications. Many kilometres of conductors were already produced throughout the world and it is now possible to start seriously thinking about a systematic industrial production of this material, as it is already possible to purchase it in reasonable lengths on the free market. These remarkable lengths of conductor were also wound in coils and their performance continuously improved in the past years. Here we will present a review of the recent results and a perspective for the future development of this “new” superconductor, starting from the optimisation of the precursor powders needed to improve the magnetic field behaviour of the tapes, to the conductor development, i.e. the production of multifilamentary Cu-stabilized tapes in lengths up to 1.78km, to the realization of the first large-scale application devices such as MRI magnets and fault current limiters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We studied experimentally the behavior of MgB2 reacted and wound pancakes, made with Columbus Superconductors' tape, at several temperatures in a cryogen free apparatus. The coils were wound with nickel sheathed, copper stabilized, multifilamentary MgB2 tape. The pancake coils were tested in a cryogen free test facility above 14 K. We also show the critical current measurements of MgB2 short samples (taken from a production of long lengths) as a function of the applied external magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-year research project, called DRYSMES 4GRID, was recently funded by the Italian Minister of Economic Development, Italy. The project, which involves five Italian partners (companies, universities, and research institutes), is aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of cost-competitive SMES based on magnesium diboride (MgB2 ) with a cryogen-free cooling bymeans of the manufacturing and the testing of a demonstrator with an objective rating of 500 kJ/200 kW. This rating is deemed suitable for disclosing the critical technological aspects of all components in view of practical applications. A further goal of the project is the assessment of the technical and economic benefits that the SMES can bring to real-world electric grids. The general outline and technical objectives of the project are presented in this paper. Preliminary design assumptions and results concerning the MgB2 coil and the power condition system are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]