Friday, 2C-11, 1:55-2:05

Reducing the Price-Performance Ratio of 2G Wire

Steve Fleshler

D. Roy, M. Rupich, A. Santamaria

American Superconductor Corporation, 64 Jackson Rd., Devens, MA 01434

Broad commercial acceptance of HTS wire is expected to occur when the price-performance ratio approaches that of copper ranging from $30-50/kA-m. The factors which directly influence the priceperformance ratio are the electrical performance (I_c) and the cost to produce the wire. The electrical performance, as well as various wire-cost components, are intimately related so that they cannot be treated independently and they often must be traded-off to optimize the price-performance ratio. Some general aspects of the interactions between production rates, volume capacity and producing high ampacity wire are considered in this presentation. These points will be illustrated by applying them to AMSC's approach to low-cost high performance wire manufacturing using a RABiTS^TM/MOD process on wide strips to enhance production rates, reduce labor costs while simultaneously producing high current wire. Opportunities for further improvement in price-performance reduction will be discussed within the existing RABiTS/MOD production platform as well as alternative longer-term approaches.

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