Terminal structure for conduction cooling high temperature superconducting cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-temperature superconducting cables require complex and costly immersion cooling methods in low-temperature liquid nitrogen, which are inconvenient to maintain and require frequent liquid nitrogen replenishment.
Innovation Solution
A terminal structure for conduction cooling of high-temperature superconducting cables, featuring a vacuum thermal insulation cavity and a refrigeration mechanism with a cooling-conducting structure, eliminating the need for liquid nitrogen and reducing maintenance, while using a multi-layer thermal insulation shell to minimize heat leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If immersion cooling in low temperature liquid nitrogen is used, then the superconducting cable can reach working temperature, but the structure becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid nitrogen cooling medium from the system and replaces it with a solid refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is installed outside the cable terminal, and only the refrigeration output part extends into the vacuum thermal insulation cavity, eliminating the need for liquid nitrogen storage and handling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cooling-conducting structure as an intermediary between the refrigeration unit and the cable terminal body. This structure efficiently transfers cold from the refrigeration output part to the cable terminal through thermal conduction, replacing the need for liquid nitrogen as the cooling medium.
2Reliability
If immersion cooling in liquid nitrogen is used, then cooling effect is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase and liquid nitrogen replenishment becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration unit is designed as a self-contained system that automatically maintains the required temperature without external intervention. The vacuum thermal insulation cavity passively prevents heat ingress, and the refrigeration unit continuously removes heat, eliminating the need for periodic liquid nitrogen replenishment and reducing maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the cooling medium from liquid (liquid nitrogen) to solid-state refrigeration equipment. This parameter change transforms the cooling system from one requiring periodic refilling to a continuous, automated temperature control system.
3Loss of energy
If vacuum thermal insulation cavity is used, then heat loss is reduced, but the thermal insulation structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a vacuum thermal insulation cavity with multi-layer reflective insulation films inside the cavity. These thin film layers reflect thermal radiation back toward the heat source, providing effective thermal insulation with minimal material thickness and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a vacuum environment inside the thermal insulation cavity, removing air and other gases that would conduct heat. This inert vacuum environment effectively blocks thermal conduction and convection, reducing heat loss to the cable terminal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables long-term operation of high-temperature superconducting cables with reduced heat loss and maintenance needs, improving the efficiency and reliability of cooling while simplifying the structure and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum thermal insulation cavity is formed in the terminal thermal insulation shell, and the cable terminal body is arranged in the vacuum thermal insulation cavity
Implementation Method 2
the refrigeration output part is connected to the cable terminal body through a cooling-conducting structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses a terminal structure for conduction cooling high temperature superconducting cable, comprising: a cable terminal body; a terminal thermal insulation shell, in which a vacuum thermal insulation cavity is formed, and the cable terminal body being arranged in the vacuum thermal insulation cavity; a refrigeration mechanism comprising a refrigeration output part extending into the vacuum thermal insulation cavity, and the refrigeration output part being connected to the cable terminal body through a cooling-conducting structure. The terminal structure provided by the present application cools the high-temperature superconducting cable by means of conduction cooling of a refrigerator without operations of low-temperature liquid transportation and supplementary, and can operate for a long time without regular maintenance, reduce the heat leakage of the cable terminal, improve the utilization efficiency of the cooling capacity of the refrigerator, and effectively ensure the stable operation of the cable for a long time.