The 100 kA VLHC transmission line magnet superconducting cable test facility

A superconducting transmission line magnet test facility was built and comm issioned Fermilab. The test facility is capable of generating a 100 kA curr ent in a 17-meter length short-circuited superconducting loop, as well as d riving 15m long test magnets. The current is excited by a room temperature primary winding and iron yoke operated as a current transformer. This appro ach avoids the expense and difficulty of 100kA current leads, and allows th e facility to be Dewar-based. The loop has a replaceable superconductor sec tion 4m long for testing various types of VLHC transmission line cables. Th e system design, 3D magnetic field analysis, magnetic forte distribution an d test results are discussed.