Stability and quench test results of the kA class conductor for a mu SMES coil

We are developing the small-sized superconducting magnetic energy storage ( mu SMES) coil with the storage capability of 3 megajoules, which provides e lectric power with high quality to sensitive electric loads, As the initial step in fabrication of the mu SMES coil, a kA class conductor with a high copper to superconductor ratio was selected as a candidate conductor. The c onductor was tested in two points of view, which are important in developme nt of the stable mu SMES coil. First, the stabilities of the conductor agai nst localized disturbances such as wire motions were measured by using a wi re heater, Second the quench current characteristics for different charge r ates were also tested. The stability data showed that the short heat pulses made the conductor more unstable. The conductor had relatively high recove ry currents ranging between 40 % and 50 % of its critical currents, compare d with the conductors with a low copper ratio. The quench tests indicated t hat the quench currents of the conductor were independent of current ramp r ates up to 3000 A/s and nearly equal to its critical current data.