On the design of superconducting magnetic energy storage systems

With respect to the available technology and the total costs a first significant step in developing superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) plants will be to design a device that is characterized by a small content of stored energy as well as by a high charging power, which is called a small fast-acting SMES unit. It is shown that a small fast-acting SMES unit should be designed as a toroidal coil operating at low induction and high current. The effects of the SMES design and the operating cycle on the cryogenic AC losses are investigated. The quench pressure and cooling concept are discussed.>