SUPERCONDUCTIVE CABLE SYSTEM
The integration of superconducting devices within a unified cryogenic envelope in a superconducting cable system addresses the issue of high costs and complexity, achieving cost-effective and efficient installation and upgrade capabilities.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-07-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-06
AI Technical Summary
Existing superconducting cable systems lack integration with superconducting devices, leading to increased costs and complexity due to multiple cryogenic enclosures and cooling systems, as well as high civil engineering expenses.
A superconducting cable system integrating a superconducting device within a single cryogenic envelope, connected via dedicated electrical connections, with a unified cooling unit and optional electric field management, allowing easy device replacement and reduced environmental footprint.
Reduces costs and simplifies installation by minimizing cryogenic enclosures and cooling systems, while facilitating device upgrades and reducing civil engineering expenses.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: SUPERCONDUCTIVE CABLE SYSTEM
[0001] The present invention relates to a superconducting cable system.
[0002] The invention belongs to the field of electrical cables.
[0003] For many years, several superconducting cable system projects have been developed and successfully tested worldwide. In parallel, superconducting devices such as superconducting fault current limiters, superconducting switching devices, superconducting motors and transformers, etc., have been developed in the laboratory or on an industrial scale.
[0004] However, these two technologies have not been merged in such a way as to produce a complete integrated system.
[0005] There is therefore a need to define a superconducting cable system arrangement capable of receiving superconducting devices in a totally integrated manner.
[0006] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art.
[0007] To this end, the present invention proposes a superconducting cable system, ca characterized by what it comprises: a superconducting cable; a first cryogenic envelope containing the cable; a superconducting device connected to the cable; a second cryogenic envelope containing the superconducting device; at least one first termination connected to the superconducting device; a cooling unit connected to at least one first termination.
[0008] Thus, the present invention allows for the complete integration of the superconducting cable and one or more superconducting devices into a single system. This reduces the overall cost, notably due to the reduction in the number of cryogenic enclosures, but also due to lower civil engineering installation costs, as the footprint is reduced. Furthermore, it simplifies the use of the cooling system, given the absence of a dual cooling system or the need to divide the cooling fluid. Moreover, the superconducting device can be easily disconnected and replaced with another device, for example, when upgrading the system. The invention can also reduce the environmental footprint of the system.
[0009] In a particular embodiment, the system further comprises a component electric field management connected to one end of the cable.
[0010] This allows for the management of the electric field after the cable screen has stopped.
[0011] In a particular embodiment, the electric field management component is contained in the second cryogenic envelope.
[0012] In a particular embodiment, the electric field management component is a capacitor cone.
[0013] In a particular embodiment, the system further comprises a cryogenic transfer line connecting the cooling unit to at least one first termination.
[0014] In a particular embodiment, the first and second cryogenic envelopes are mutually connected.
[0015] In a particular embodiment, the superconducting device is connected to the cable via at least one dedicated electrical connection.
[0016] In a particular embodiment, at least one dedicated electrical connection is pluggable.
[0017] This makes it easier to assemble the cable and the superconducting device.
[0018] In a particular embodiment, the system further comprises: a second ending; a cryogenic transfer return line connecting the cooling unit to said second termination.
[0019] This allows the circulation of the cryogenic fluid and the renewal of its cooling.
[0020] In a particular embodiment, the cooling unit is a closed circuit.
[0021] Alternatively, the cooling unit is an open circuit and the system further comprises a cold storage tank connected to the cooling unit.
[0022] In a particular embodiment, at least one first termination is connected directly to the superconducting device.
[0023] This configuration is particularly advantageous when the superconducting device can hardly be placed in the middle of the superconducting cable link, especially in cases where this involves excessively expensive civil engineering work or if the link is entirely buried.
[0024] Alternatively, at least one first termination is connected to a second end of the cable and to the first sheath.
[0025] In a particular embodiment, the second cryogenic envelope comprises a plurality of inlets adapted for the respective connection of a plurality of additional superconducting cables to the superconducting device, each of the superconducting cables conductors of the plurality of superconducting cables being equipped with an additional electric field management component.
[0026] This allows the superconducting device to fulfill the function of a distribution box. Brief description of the drawings
[0027] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of particular embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0028] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of a system according to the present invention, in a first particular embodiment;
[0029] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a system according to the present invention, in a second particular embodiment;
[0030] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of a system according to the present invention, in a third particular embodiment;
[0031] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of a system according to the present invention, in a fourth particular embodiment. Description of method(s) of implementation
[0032] As shown in [Fig.1], in a particular embodiment, a superconducting cable system according to the present invention comprises a superconducting cable 1 and a superconducting device 8 connected to the cable 1, for example by at least one dedicated electrical connection 9.
[0033] Advantageously, this electrical connection 9 is pluggable. It can, for example, be standardized and identical regardless of the superconducting device 8 to be connected.
[0034] The system further comprises a first cryogenic envelope 2 containing the cable 1 and a second cryogenic envelope 7 containing the superconducting device 8.
[0035] The system also includes at least one first termination 3 connected to the superconducting device 8 and a cooling unit 4 connected to at least one first termination 3.
[0036] The cooling unit 4 can be connected to the first termination 3 via a dedicated cryogenic transfer line 5, included in the system.
[0037] The first termination 3 allows the transmission of current and voltage from cryogenic temperature to ambient temperature and can be connected to an electrical network or any other power supply.
[0038] In the embodiment of [Fig. 1], the first termination 3 is connected to the superconducting device 8 via cable 1 and first cryogenic envelope 2, which are connected, at one of their respective ends, to first termination 3 and, at their other respective ends, to superconducting device 8.
[0039] At the end of cable 1 opposite to that connected to the first termination 3, cable 1 is connected to an electric field management component 6.
[0040] In the particular embodiment of [Fig.1], this electric field management component 6, which allows the electric field to be managed after the cable 1 screen is stopped, is contained in the second cryogenic envelope 7 which contains the superconducting device 8 by being encapsulated therein.
[0041] By way of non-limiting example, the electric field management component 6 may be a capacitor cone or a bushing or any other component deemed appropriate.
[0042] The first cryogenic envelope 2 of the cable 1 and the second cryogenic envelope 7 of the superconducting device 8 can be mutually connected, advantageously via a standardized interface, which allows for a similar connection regardless of the type of cryogenic envelope.
[0043] The system arrangement is symmetrical on either side of the superconducting device 8 so as to allow the flow of current and voltage. In other words, a segment of the cable 1 and its cryogenic sheath 2, as well as an electric field management component 6 and a termination 3 are connected to each of the two ends of the superconducting device 8 and the system further includes a cryogenic transfer return line 10 which connects the cooling unit 4 to a second termination 3, i.e. the termination 3 connected to the end of the superconducting device 8 opposite to the end of the superconducting device 8 connected to the first termination 3.
[0044] The cryogenic transfer return line 10 allows the circulation of the cryogenic fluid and the renewal of its cooling.
[0045] Two configurations are possible for the cooling unit 4: either it can be in a closed circuit, i.e. the cryogenic fluid is cooled again to be reinjected, or it can be in an open circuit, in which case the system also includes a cold storage tank, for example a cryogenic fluid storage tank, which is regularly filled.
[0046] The embodiment of [Fig.1] allows for a long superconducting cable link 1 between two distant points and directly integrating a superconducting device 8 such as a fault current limiter.
[0047] If a transmission line several kilometers long is planned, the portion of superconducting cable 1 considered can be divided into several segments connected to each other by intermediate junctions.
[0048] Nevertheless, thanks to this embodiment, the two lengths of superconducting cable 1 connected to the superconducting device 8 can also be extremely short: in this case, the system can be seen as an autonomous superconducting device, ready to be connected to an electrical network or any other power supply.
[0049] Fig. 2 shows another particular embodiment, in which the second cryogenic envelope 7 fuses directly with the first termination 3 and / or the second termination 3. Thus, the termination 3 is directly connected to the superconducting device 8.
[0050] The electrical connection between the superconducting device 8 and the termination 3 and through it can be resistive or partially superconducting.
[0051] As shown in [Fig.3], if the current to be carried is very large, typically for high power transmission, several terminations 3 can be included in the second cryogenic envelope 7. By way of a non-limiting example, a 6 kA system can include two 3 kA terminations to inject the current into the superconducting device 8.
[0052] Fig. 4 shows yet another particular embodiment, in which the second cryogenic envelope 7 has a plurality of entrances, for example four entrances 11, 12, 13 and 14 in the illustrated embodiment.
[0053] A superconducting cable similar to cable 1, equipped with an electric field management component similar to component 6, can be connected to each of these inputs 11, 12, 13 and 14.
[0054] The superconducting device 8 can then act as a distribution box. By way of non-limiting example, the superconducting device 8 can be a switching device which allows the transmission of energy only from a point A to a point B, but offering the possibility of partially or exclusively switching the energy to a point C, D, E or F.
[0055] The number of inputs of the superconducting device 8 may be less than or greater than that illustrated in [Fig.4] and described above.
Claims
Demands
1. Superconducting cable system, characterized in that it comprises: a superconducting cable (1); a first cryogenic sheath (2) containing said cable (1); a superconducting device (8) connected to said cable (1); a second cryogenic sheath (7) containing said superconducting device (8); at least one first termination (3) connected to said superconducting device (8); a cooling unit (4) connected to said at least one first termination (3).
2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an electric field management component (6) connected to a first end of said cable (1).
3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said electric field management component (6) is contained in said second cryogenic envelope (7).
4. System according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said electric field management component (6) is a capacitor cone.
5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a cryogenic transfer line (5) connecting said cooling unit (4) to said at least one first termination (3).
6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second cryogenic envelopes (2, 7) are mutually connected.
7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said superconducting device (8) is connected to said cable (1) via at least one dedicated electrical connection (9).
8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least one dedicated electrical connection (9) is pluggable.
9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises: a second termination (3); a cryogenic transfer return line (10) connecting said unit (4) cooling to said second termination (3).
10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cooling unit (4) is a closed circuit.
11. System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said cooling unit (4) is an open circuit and said system further comprises a cold storage tank connected to said cooling unit (4).
12. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one first termination (3) is directly connected to said superconducting device (8).
13. System according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said at least one first termination (3) is connected to a second end of said cable (1) and to said first sheath (2).
14. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second cryogenic envelope (7) comprises a plurality of inlets (11, 12, 13, 14) adapted for the respective connection of a plurality of additional superconducting cables to said superconducting device (8), each of the superconducting cables of said plurality of superconducting cables being equipped with an additional electric field management component.