Successful Handover of Superconductive Magnets for the Jülich Research Center

Würzburg, 31. Jul. 2009

Babcock Noell GmbH in Würzburg specializes in the production of superconductive magnetic coils. After the successful production of dipole magnetic coils for the LHC experiment at CERN (CH) (also known from “Illuminati” by Dan Brown) and the production of curved main field magnetic coils for the Wendelstein 7-X nuclear fusion experiment for the Max Planck Institute (Greifswald), another project has now been handed over to the customer.

This project involves a pair of identical superconductive solenoid magnets which are used by the Jülich Research Center at the Spallation Neutron Source of Oak Ridge National Laboratories (USA). The customer operates these magnets as the main components in a so-called neutron spin echo spectrometer which it uses, for example, to investigate the dynamic of glass, polymer melts, complex liquids and other multi-layered processes. The use of superconductive technology and the high precision design of the systems has created the conditions to set a new world record in the resolution of this type of spectrometer.

Each of the two magnets, which were produced in the company’s own workshop, comprises approximately 16,000 turns of superconductor wire with a cross-section of around 0.5 mm². The magnets weigh around 1,000 kg and are adjusted to their operating temperature of 4 K (approx. -269°C) by cryocoolers. At this temperature the material (NbTi) becomes superconductive and loses its ohmic resistance so that the operating current of 250 A can flow without any losses. The resulting homogeneous magnetic field with a strength of 1.4 Tesla corresponds to approximately 28,000 times the Earth’s magnetic field. Very small geometric deviations within the solenoids can be measured with the fitted measuring systems to an accuracy of +2 µm.

Babcock Noell was also responsible for the design for this project to ensure that the required specified properties could be achieved. The coils have been handed over to the customer after a successful final acceptance procedure in the USA.

About Babcock Noell GmbH:

Babcock Noell is a global player in the areas of nuclear service, nuclear technology, magnetic systems, and environmental engineering and has been very successful in leveraging the experience it has acquired in the last four decades. The company operates as part of the Bilfinger Berger AG group through Bilfinger Berger Power Services GmbH in Oberhausen.

With a staff of 300, most of which are qualified engineers, core competencies range from development, planning, delivery, and commissioning to on-site operation of plants and facilities.

Particularly noteworthy and technologically challenging projects include delivery of the containment liner and other complex components for the new OL 3 nuclear power station in Finland, construction of the pilot conditioning plant for final storage of spent fuel elements in Gorleben, engineering of superconducting magnets for the international research center in Geneva and of superconducting coils for the Max Planck Institute's nuclear fusion reactor experiment (Wendelstein 7 X) in Garching and Greifswald, and delivery of a flue gas desulfurization plant for the world's first pilot installation with CO₂ extractor and form the basis for future growth.

For further Information please contact:
Babcock Noell GmbH
Geschäftsführung
Alfred-Nobel-Str. 20
97080 Würzburg
Telefon: +49 931 9030
Fax: +49 931 9036000
Email: info@babcocknoell.de
Web: www.babcocknoell.de

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