Use of superconducting coils as energy storage elements in pulsed system operations

The possible reductions in the size and weight of energy storage systems through the use of superconducting coils in place of capacitors indicate that superconducting coils offer significant potential for use in pulsed operations. Two systems utilizing superconducting coils have been built and successfully tested. The first system made use of an 8.35-mH coil which was charged to a maximum current of 1350 amperes and discharged into a 2.5-ohm resistive load. This system was then repetitively pulsed at a 10- second rate for a series of ten 3200-joule pulses. The second system made use of a 1.92-mH coil. This system was charged to a maximum current of 8000 amperes in three seconds and discharged into a 0.5-ohm resistive load. Both coils were wound with a copper stabilized Nb Zr conductor.