NEW TRANSFORMER AT LNCMI-GRENOBLE

A new transformer, financed by FEDER funds from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the CNRS, has been installed on the CNRS campus in Grenoble. The Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses, one of the major research infrastructure of the CNRS, is now directly connected to the 225,000 V high voltage grid of RTE (Réseau de Transport d‘Électricité or „Electricity Transmission Network“). With a power of 60 MVA, this transformer now increases the maximum power distributed to our magnets from 24 to 30 MW. Equipped with a new generation of a fast-response voltage regulator, this transformer allows for a better management of the network voltage during the magnetic-field sweeps, which are controlled by the researchers. The immediate benefit for the international community of users is a better stability and an increased safety margin during their experiments in very intense magnetic fields. Furthermore, ongoing tests and developments of magnets aim to increase the magnetic-field values available in different configurations taking advantage of this additional power now available. Finally, the direct connection to a high-voltage level allows us to reduce joule losses and become a player in the regulation of the national electricity network. These are essential building blocks for working towards the long-term sustainability of our scientific activities.