Superconducting Cable Connection Structure with Stepwise Taper Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connection structure for superconducting cables experiences weakened adhesion and reduced resistance to electrical field stress due to the use of dry insulating paper, which is prone to tearing when wound tightly, leading to potential electrical breakdown and performance degradation as the conductor cools.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure with taper shape portions having stepwise inclination angles and a reinforcing insulating layer, where the taper shape portions are formed with smaller inclination angles near the conductor connecting part and larger angles further away, and the reinforcing layer is composed of laminated insulating sheets to enhance adhesion and insulation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dry insulating paper is used to fill the valley between taper shape portions, then the connection structure can be simplified without oil impregnation, but the insulating paper is prone to tearing when wound tightly, leading to weakened adhesion and reduced resistance to electrical field stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating taper shape portions with different inclination angles at different locations. The inner taper shape portions (near the conductor connecting part) have smaller inclination angles to reduce electrical field stress and prevent breakdown, while outer taper shape portions have larger inclination angles. This localized variation in geometry optimizes both adhesion strength and electrical performance in different regions of the insulating structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple insulating papers with different properties. Specifically, it employs impregnated insulating paper (providing strong adhesion and flexibility) and dry insulating paper (providing electrical insulation) in a layered composite structure. This composite approach allows the structure to simultaneously achieve strong adhesion, electrical insulation, and resistance to tearing.
2Strength
If the insulating paper is wound tightly to prevent looseness, then adhesion between insulating portions is improved, but the dry insulating paper is likely to be torn, weakening adhesion and reducing resistance to electrical gradient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating taper shape portions with different inclination angles at different locations. The inner taper shape portions (near the conductor connecting part) have smaller inclination angles to reduce electrical field stress and prevent breakdown, while outer taper shape portions have larger inclination angles. This localized variation in geometry optimizes both adhesion strength and electrical performance in different regions of the insulating structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple insulating papers with different properties. Specifically, it employs impregnated insulating paper (providing strong adhesion and flexibility) and dry insulating paper (providing electrical insulation) in a layered composite structure. This composite approach allows the structure to simultaneously achieve strong adhesion, electrical insulation, and resistance to tearing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the inner side of the electric insulating portion shrinks during cooling, then the adhesion becomes weaker and gaps are more easily formed, but a tighter structure is needed to maintain insulation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-forming taper shape portions with specific inclination angles before the cooling and contraction process occurs. These pre-designed geometric features anticipate the shrinkage that will happen during cooling and are configured to compensate for it, preventing gap formation and maintaining adhesion strength despite the dimensional changes during temperature reduction.
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 configuration reduces stratabound-direction electrical field stress, prevents electrical breakdown, and allows for a downsized connection structure with improved insulation performance and reduced production time and workload.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling medium such as liquid nitrogen circulates inside the internal tube so that electrical power is transmitted in an ultralow temperature state
Implementation Method 2
a superconducting cable using superconducting wire material as a conductor, which material becomes a superconducting state at an ultralow temperature
Implementation Method 3
the inner side thereof shrinks in not only a longitudinal direction but also a radial direction as the conductor is cooled from an ambient temperature to −200 degrees C
Data Source
AI summary
A connection structure for superconducting cables includes: superconducting cables that are connected to each other and include cable cores containing formers and superconducting conductor layers, and each cable core is housed in a thermal insulation tube with a cooling medium, wherein the cable cores include electric insulating layers obtained by winding insulating sheets around the superconducting conductor layers, the electric insulating layers on both sides of a conductor connecting part, in which the formers and the superconducting conductor layers are connected to each other, include taper shape portions each having a diameter reducing towards the conductor connecting part, each taper shape portion is formed so as to have an inclination angle changing in a stepwise fashion by a plurality of tapered portions among which a tapered portion nearer the conductor connecting part has smaller inclination angle, and a reinforcing insulating layer is provided between the taper shape portions.