Fabrication and functional tests of a compact 60 kA superconducting transformer for cable test facility

This study introduces a new compact (196 mm diameter), high current (±60 kA) superconducting transformer design optimized for economical operation and exceptional current capacity. The prototype employs a distinctive dual-coil architecture—a primary coil wound with 7826 turns of 0.77 mm NbTi monofilament wire and a secondary coil integrating a 32-strand NbTi Rutherford cable. This configuration enables unprecedented space efficiency while maintaining high current density. The initial cryogenic testing at 4.2 K validated the system’s capability to deliver 45 kA, achieving 75 % of its 60 kA design target. After analyzing the possibility of the phenomenon, the secondary cryogenic test at 4.2 K verified the system’s ability to deliver 60 kA targets. The demonstrated performance establishes a new benchmark for laboratory-scale superconducting transformers, offering a solution for cost-sensitive research environments. By eliminating dependence on specialized cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) components and simplifying coil fabrication, this advancement significantly lowers the technical and financial barriers to high-current testing—a crucial enabler for next-generation superconducting magnet development.