Low cost composite structures for superconducting magnetic energy storage systems

Abstract

A b s t r a c f -A s part of the Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage/Engineering Test Model ( S M E S -E T M )p r o g r a m , d e s i g n , a n a l y s i s , fabrication and test programs were conducted to evaluate the low cost manufacturing of Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) beams for usage as major components of the structural and electrical insulation systems.These studies utilized pultrusion process technologies and vinylester resins to produce large net sections at costs s i gn i f ica n t I y be low t 11 a t o f c o n \fen t ion ;i I mat er ia I s.Demonstration articles in c o r p or a t i n g laminate architectures a n d design details representative of SMES-ETM components were fabricated using the pultrusion process and epoxy, vinylester, and polyester resin systems. The mechanical and thermal properties of these articles were measured over the temperature range from 4 K to 300 K. l t i e results of these tests showed that the pultruded, vinylester components have properties comparable to those of currently used materials, such as G-10, and are capable of' meeting the design requirements for the SMES-ETM system.