Cooling and electrical excitation of 100 m superconducting power transmission cables

The design of a test facility for superconducting power transmission cables is described. The cryogenic portion consists of a screw compressor, cold box with turbine expanders, 100 m of transfer line and 100 m of cable enclosure. The complete cryogenic system has been operated and performance figures are given. The cables will be operated at voltage and current by electrical equipment which has mostly been installed and tested. The interface between the low-temperature cables and the outside are four termination bushings which are under construction; a brief description is included