Superconducting Magnet
Introduction
Superconducting materials are essential foundational materials for generating strong magnetic fields. In applications requiring magnetic fields of several Tesla to tens of Tesla, superconducting wires are often needed to wind the magnets. HTS materials have the potential for large-scale applications in energy, transportation, and large scientific instruments, among other fields.
High-strength superconducting magnets for scientific research mainly include large-diameter high-field superconducting conductors and magnets, interpolated HTS magnets, and CICC (Cable-in-Conduit Conductor) conductors. They can be applied in the fields of large scientific projects, biomedical engineering, national defense, and high-precision scientific instruments. REBCO tapes, which possess higher current-carrying capacity and superior mechanical properties under high magnetic fields, are more suitable for high-field magnets (≥25T) and expected to drive advancements in science and technology.
The core components of particle accelerators and heavy ion cancer treatment system are magnets that accelerate particles to collide or release high-energy rays for research and treatment purposes. REBCO HTS magnets are the preferred choice of the next generation accelerator devices because of their outstanding advantages such as small size, light weight, and no need for liquid helium cooling.
Superconducting wind power generators mainly utilize the zero-resistance characteristic of HTS tapes, replacing copper coils with HTS coils. It has the advantages of smaller size, lighter weight, and lower overall cost, making them suitable for offshore and floating wind turbines. Superconducting wind power generators are among the most promising and ideal energy conversion device, which will further promote the development of the wind power industry and support carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
Traditional heat treatment processes face challenges such as poor heating uniformity, poor temperature controllability, and low energy efficiency. Superconducting DC induction heating technology, based on the zero resistance and high current-carrying characteristics of superconducting materials, uses HTS magnets to generate a background magnetic field, creating a DC air gap magnetic field in the heating area. This method heats the billet by rotating it to cut the magnetic lines of force, generating eddy currents. This innovative solution provides high penetration, high efficiency, high uniformity, and high gradient heating for the metal thermal processing industry.
Since Elon Musk's announcement of the Hyperloop vacuum tube train concept in 2013, the "high-speed transportation" concept has garnered increasing attention. In 2014, Japan began constructing a low-temperature superconducting high-speed maglev line between Tokyo and Osaka, setting a world record with a speed of 603 km/h on the test track. Currently, Germany, Brazil, China, and other countries are researching HTS maglev circular lines. HTS maglev technology uses HTS tape coils as stators or motors, maintaining a high power factor under large air gap working conditions. This technology significantly enhances traction, load capacity, and speed while reducing weight, size, and energy consumption, and lowering cooling costs. As cities rapidly develop, superconducting maglev transport, which is fast, safe, and clean, will provide technological support for the implementation of the "transportation power" strategy.
Application Projects
35.6 All-Superconducting User Magnet - Institute of Electrical Engineering, CAS / Institute of Physics, CAS
In January 2026, the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have jointly developed an all-superconducting user magnet with a record-breaking central magnetic field of 35.6 teslas and a usable aperture of 35 millimeters.
Shanghai Superconductor has provided high-performance and reliable REBCO tapes for the All-Superconducting User Magnet.
32.35T Magnet Project - Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
In December 2019, the team at the CAS Institute of Electrical Engineering successfully developed an all-superconducting magnet with the central magnetic field reaching 32.35T, breaking the previous world record of 32.0T for superconducting magnets.
Shanghai Superconductor has maintained a long-term collaboration with the CAS Institute of Electrical Engineering, providing part of HTS tapes for the winding of two coils at the ends of the magnet.
35.1T Fully Superconducting Magnet - CAS Institute of Plasma Physics
In September 2025, the CAS Institute of Plasma Physics and its joint research team successfully energized the Fully superconducting magnet to 35.1T, stably operated for 30 minutes, and was safely demagnetized, fully verifying the reliability of the technical approach, awaiting the next round of extreme testing.
Shanghai Superconductor has collaborated closely with the CAS Institute of Plasma Physics, and provided all the REBCO tapes for the magnet.
44.86T insert HTS coil - High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS
In September 2025, the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL) successfully developed a “pocket-type” high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coil. The coil, wound with REBCO tapes, generated 28.20 T at zero field in a liquid helium bath and produced an additional 10.36 T inside the 34.5 T steady-state magnetic field of the WM5 water-cooled magnet. Together, the system achieved a record combined magnetic field of 44.86 T.
Shanghai Superconductor has collaborated closely with CHMFL and provided all the REBCO tapes for the coil.
26.8T Full REBCO HTS Magnet — CAS Institute of Plasma Physics
In January 2024, the CAS Institute of Plasma Physics and its joint research team successfully energized the all REBCO HTS magnet to 26.8T, breaking the highest record of full HTS magnet at 26.4T. This achievement signifies that China's HTS magnet technology and HTS material performance have reached the internationally leading level.
Shanghai Superconductor provided high-performance HTS tapes of various specifications required for winding this magnet, offering crucial material support for the successful development of the magnet. Shanghai Superconductor will continue to deepen its cooperation with the Institute of Plasma Physics and make greater contributions to the development and innovation of HTS magnet technology.
24.1T All REBCO HTS Magnet — CAS Institute of Plasma Physics
In October 2022, the team from the Institute of Plasma, Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully energized their independently developed all REBCO HTS magnet to 24.1T. This marks the first domestically produced tightly wound superconducting magnet exceeding 20T. The magnet, immersed in liquid helium, successfully reached a current of 300A, with the central field strength stably maintained at 24.1T.
All the REBCO superconducting tape used in this magnet was provided by Shanghai Superconductor, demonstrating the excellent performance of domestic REBCO tape under low-temperature and high-magnetic-field conditions. The development of this magnet is of great significance for advancing superconducting materials and magnet equipment in China, laying an important foundation for the subsequent development of high-field scientific devices above 35T.
China's First HTS Electric Levitation Train — CRRC Group
In March 2023, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. (CRRC Changchun) successfully completed the first levitation test run of China's first high-temperature superconducting electric maglev full-element experimental system in Changchun. This achievement marks a significant technological breakthrough in the field of HTS electric maglev in China.
Shanghai Superconductor has collaborated deeply with CRRC Changchun, supplying all the high-performance high-temperature superconducting materials used in the project. These materials were used to develop key components such as the on-board high-temperature superconducting magnets. Moving forward, Shanghai Superconductor will continue to contribute to the development of larger and faster superconducting electric maglev prototype vehicles as part of the consortium led by CRRC.
Megawatt-Class Superconducting Induction Heater — Jiangxi Lianovation Superconductor Co., Ltd.
Jiangxi Lianovation Superconductor has successfully developed the world’s first MW-class high-temperature superconducting induction heating device, which was successfully commissioned on April 20, 2023, at Northeast Light Alloy Corporation, a subsidiary of China Aluminum Group in Heilongjiang. This product is an energy-efficient induction heating furnace that can be widely applied in various metal processing and heat treatment fields, achieving nearly 50% energy savings and ultra-uniform heating effects.
Shanghai Superconductor has maintained a long-term partnership with Jiangxi Lianovation Superconductor. As a core material supplier, it has provided all the high-temperature superconducting tapes from the prototype development stage to the industrial product finalization stage for the induction heater's core magnet winding. To date, Shanghai Superconductor has completed the supply of high-temperature superconducting tapes at the hundred-kilometer level.
High-Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Control Technology for Silicon Single-Crystal Growth Passes Professional Appraisal - Jiangxi Lianovation Superconductor
In March 2025, the “Appraisal Meeting for the Scientific and Technological Achievements of High-Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Control Equipment, Technology, and Application for Silicon Single-Crystal Growth” was successfully held. A panel of experts led by Academician Gan Zizhao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the project and unanimously concluded that the technology fills several gaps in China’s high-end silicon crystal manufacturing field, with overall performance reaching world-leading levels.
As the core material supplier for Lianovation Superconductor, Shanghai Superconductor has provided more than 1,000 kilometers of high-performance high-temperature superconducting tapes, which have been used to wind the superconducting magnets in high-temperature superconducting induction heating devices and high-temperature superconducting magnetic control equipment for silicon single-crystal growth.
Superconducting MRI Magnet — University of Cambridge, UK
In 2021, the University of Cambridge successfully developed a small MRI device specifically designed for cranial imaging to quickly diagnose conditions such as strokes. The magnets inside the device are entirely made with 2G-HTS tapes produced by Shanghai Superconductor. At an operating temperature of 20K, the device can generate a magnetic field of 1T. The compact and lightweight design allows the device to be quickly moved to the bedside for diagnostic services, offering significant advantages in efficiency and portability.
Shanghai Superconductor has deeply collaborated with the University of Cambridge, providing all the HTS tapes for the winding of the MRI magnets in this small MRI device.