Analysis on the transverse compression performance of the CORC cable

Abstract The conductor on round core (CORC) cable is considered as one of the best candidate cables for next generation fusion project due to its advantages of high current density, small cabling degradation and excellent magnetic field performance. Nevertheless, the CORC cable will be affected by huge transverse compression force during production and transportation, especially during operation in fusion project, which is the main reason that the current-carrying capacity of CORC cable will be irreversible degradation. There is little research on the transverse compression performance of CORC cables at present, and the influence rules of some cable parameters on its transverse compression performance are not yet clear. Therefore, in this paper, transverse compression tests are carried out on CORC cables of different former sizes, materials, and structures. The experimental results show that the larger the cable former size, the better its transverse compression performance. The transverse compression load limit of hollow tube former cable is larger than that of solid bar former cable. The performance of stainless steel bar former cable is similar to that of copper bar former cable. The limit value of transverse compression load of copper hollow tube former cable is larger than that of stainless steel hollow tube former cable. A 3D finite element model is also established to explain the internal reasons for the differences of current-carrying capacity decrease tendency of different CORC cables. The research results can provide theoretical basis for the selection of former of CORC cable in the future. In addition, the influence of load block structure on the CORC cable’s transverse compression load limit is also studied in this paper. The results show that the arc block can significantly increase the transverse compression load limit of CORC cable. The research results can provide a basis for the selection of the structure of support former when making cable in conduit conductor and the structure of coil former when winding CORC coil magnet.