Series-Connected Superconducting Cable Phases
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-field superconducting magnets face limitations in achieving high current densities and operating currents due to the limited current capacity of single HTS tapes, which restricts the magnetic field strength and requires additional stabilizing materials, increasing the size and thermal conduction of current leads.
Innovation Solution
A superconducting cable design featuring multiple phases separated by resistive or insulating barriers, allowing current sharing between phases and enabling higher operating currents while maintaining high current density, achieved through series and parallel connections of superconducting tapes wound around a former.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple HTS tapes are used in parallel to increase current capacity, then the operating current increases, but the winding current density decreases due to the need for additional stabilizing material
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple phases (first phase, second phase, third phase) with each phase containing one or more superconducting tapes. These phases are connected in series through resistive barriers at the cable ends, allowing each tape to operate at high current density while the cumulative effect achieves the desired total operating current without requiring excessive stabilizing material
Solution Approach 2:
Resistive barriers are introduced as intermediary elements between the phases to enable series connection. These barriers prevent current leakage between phases while allowing the system to achieve high operating currents through series configuration, thereby maintaining high current density in each superconducting tape
2Power
If the current leads are made thicker to handle higher currents, then the current carrying capacity increases, but the thermal conduction along the current leads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The current path is segmented into multiple phases connected in series. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high current carrying capacity through the series configuration of multiple lower-current paths, thereby avoiding the need for thick current leads that would conduct excessive heat
3Temperature
If a single HTS tape is used to limit current lead size, then the thermal conduction is reduced, but the operating current is limited to below 1,000 A
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is segmented into multiple phases that are connected in series. This configuration enables the system to handle operating currents between 200 and 1,000 A by distributing the current across multiple phases, thereby maintaining thin current leads with low thermal conduction while achieving the required current capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-dimensional current path to a multi-dimensional phase structure. By organizing superconducting tapes into multiple phases connected in series, the system achieves high current capacity without increasing the cross-sectional area of current leads, thus maintaining low thermal conduction
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
The design enables operating currents between 200 and 1,000 A with high winding current density, reducing the need for stabilizing materials and minimizing the size of power sources and current leads, while providing efficient current distribution and protection against quenching.
Implementation Method 1
A superconducting cable design featuring multiple phases separated by resistive or insulating barriers, allowing current sharing between phases and enabling higher operating currents while maintaining high current density
Data Source
AI summary
A superconducting device includes a superconducting cable having a plurality of superconducting tapes in a plurality of phases, including a first phase, and at least one further phase. One or more superconducting tapes of the first phase is in electrical contact with one or more superconducting tapes of the at least one further phase through at least one resistive barrier that prevents current from passing between the first phase and the at least one further phase in the absence of a voltage between one or more of the superconducting tapes of the first phase or the at least one further phase. The first phase is electrically connected in series to at least one further phase.