13000 A HTS Current Leads for the LHC Accelerator: From Conceptual Design to Prototype Validation

The main dipole and quadrupole circuits of the LHC accelerator will be fed via 13000 A High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) current leads. To validate the design and technological choices prior to launching the industrial production of the serial components, CERN has designed and assembled in-house a pair of 13000 A HTS current leads. The HTS part of the lead consists of a number of stacks of BSCCO 2223 tapes soldered together according to procedures defined at CERN. This report summarizes the conceptual design of the lead and the technological choices made for the different parts of the lead assembly. Particular attention is given to the HTS component on which the results of thermal, electrical, soldering and impregnation tests are reported.