| PNRR-IRIS GENOVA POLO |
The Genova pole will concentrate its activity on HTS cables R&D, and on studies for a complete characterization of materials and conductors at variable temperature. Interactions with primary companies in the field (some of them will be located at local/national level) will be necessary to equip and operate the various laboratories (cryo-plants, instrumentation, mechanics, etc.).
The characterization of wires/cables, in particular to critical current measurements, and of materials are fundamental for the R&D on applied superconductivity as well as on engineering activities related to the design and construction of superconducting magnets. The new infrastructure, with its new instrumentation, its new technological services and more efficient cryogenics, will enables/enhance the capability to characterise high temperature superconductors and will increase the international competitiveness of INFN-Ge, SPIN-Ge and UniGe-DIFI in the field of applied superconductivity.
INFN-GE - ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE (INFN)
The new infrastructure devoted to the characterisation of superconducting cables, is a diffused lab which involves areas located in the Physics Department of UniGe (DIFI) and in the CNR-SPIN headquarter. The largest part of the infrastructure will be hosted in a room already existing at the ground level of the DIFI that, at present, there are cryogenic plants and INFN instrumentation dedicated to measurements on superconducting devices. With the aim to adapt it to host the new cryogenics and the new instrumentation as well as to make it more comfortable for the users and more efficient, the room must be completely renewed. The renewing activity includes floor, doors, partition walls, thermal insulation, renewing technical services (power lines, LAN, compressed air, cooling water, pump exhaust lines, vacuum lines, technical gas lines, new ventilation, cranes) and safety systems (oxygen sensors, forced ventilation system, etc.). Pits will be adapted to the new magnet cryostat. An acoustically insulated control room will be built inside the lab.
The activity will include also works in the technical areas outside the laboratory room (electric power lines, LAN, safety system, etc.
If necessary, a new service trench between the lab and the technical room will be built.
Renovation of the related offices (first floor) including all the technological systems (electric power, LAN, air circulation, etc.) and movement of the office for the time required for works.
GE-DIFI - Università degli Studi di Genova
The activity regards the new Helium recovery lines for the laboratory at floors 2-4 of the UniGe-DIFI. The necessity to replace the old He recovery lines with new ones is due to the integration with the new recovery infrastructure described in activity 3: as the He recovery balloons are located at the ground floor, a pressure gradient (about 11 Pa/m) is established from the bottom upwards, leading to large losses in case of leaks. Countermeasures are taken (one-way valves on the main pipes), however new, leakproof lines are required anyway.
SPIN-GE - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
The laboratories located at headquarter of CNR-SPIN-GE are devoted to the development and fabrication of High Temperature Superconducting wires/tape and devices. The largest area contains a plant to fabricate the conductors and a series of furnaces for the needed heat treatments. A complete characterisation of conductors and cables needs performing test also on small coils. The necessary equipment for their manufacturing (winding machine, impregnation tool) requires to be installed and to be operated in a relatively clean environment, not compatible with the wire production area. On the other hand, the vicinity of the winding tools to the wire production and ovens is desirable because it avoid moving wires back and forth. Therefore, a space suitable to host the new instrumentation will be made available and a proper shed complete with electrical system will be build and installed within the existing building. The activity will be developed through three subsequent phases: first the evaluation of the needed space and the shed design, second the market survey for a suitable prefabricated shed and third placing an order for its purchasing and installation.
To enhance the capability of the CNR-SPIN lab in structural and morphological characterisation of superconductors. Such characterization is of vital importance in the development not only of the superconducting materials but also of wires and coated conductors. Moreover, the characterization of the structures and the interfaces of the conductors and cables is of great support in analysing possible damages or inhomogeneity (due to manipulation, cabling and heat treatments) and correlating them with the transport properties. The new instrumentation will enhance the quality and potentiality of the infrastructure making it more competitive and attractive to external users such as industrial companies.
