HTS high gradient magnetic separation system

We report on the assembly, characterization and operation of a high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic separator. The magnet is made of 624 m of Silver/BSCCO superconducting wire and has overall dimensions of 18 cm OD, 15.5 cm height and 5 cm ID. The HTS current leads are designed to operate with the warm end at 75 K and the cold end at 27 K. The system operates in a vacuum and is cooled by a two stage Gifford-McMahon cryocooler. The upper stage of the cryocooler cools the thermal shield and two heat pipe thermal intercepts. The lower stage of the cryocooler cools the HTS magnet and the bottom end of the HTS current leads. The HTS magnet was initially characterized in liquid cryogens. We report the current-voltage (I-V) on characteristics of the HTS magnet at temperatures ranging from 15 to 45 K. At 40 K the magnet can generate a central field of 2.0 T at a current of 120 A.