13 kA current lead with textured YBCO plates

At Haldor Topsoe A/S we have developed a texturing process by which we prod uce YBCO high temperature superconductor plates with high current densities and low thermal conductivity suitable for current leads between 77 K and 4 K. In our design of such a lead the superconductor is quench protected by a shunt with low heat leak and the brittleness of the YBCO material has bee n overcome by reinforcement. The lead has been tested by CERN and has fulfi lled CERN's specifications concerning current capacity, total heat leak, co ntact resistances and quench protection of the superconductor.