Investigations for the development of superconducting power switches

The transmission behaviour of NbTi-foils, NbTi-multifilament wires in CuNi-matrix and of NbN-sputtering sheets have been investigated and compared under different switching modes. Suitability for switching of 50 Hz-a.c. current has been proofed. Based on the results at 1200 A switch for a 12 kJ-superconducting storage coil which was the basic step in a project for the development of superconducting storage systems has been built. The switching time with and without load current has been investigated for different amplitude of current pulses.