Testing of the dependence of the number of layers on the performance of a one-meter HTS transmission cable section

A one-meter long prototype transmission cable was constructed by Southwire Company consisting of four layers of helically wound Bi-2223/Ag HTS tapes. Measurements were made at Oak Ridge National Laboratory of the dc V-I chara cteristics and ac loss of the as received cable and after sequentially stri pping the outermost layer so that a series of measurements for four-, three -, two-, and one-layer cables were completed, The differences in the cable performance could then be compared with existing theories. In its initial f our-layer configuration the measured critical current was over 1500 A. Afte r the removal of the outermost layer to form a three-layer cable, the criti cal current dropped to 881 A. The performance degradation that was measured is not in direct proportion to the number of tapes in the cable, The dc V- I characteristic curve, critical current, and ac losses are reported for ea ch configuration.