Superconducting Cable Suspension for Axial Force Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Superconducting cables contract significantly due to low-temperature refrigerants, causing axial forces that can lead to connection issues and system instability, particularly when installed underground, where space is limited and other cables may interfere.
Innovation Solution
The superconducting power system employs suspension sections with specific length and height ratios, forming a sine or cosine function to absorb axial forces generated by contraction, allowing for fixed connection devices and minimizing installation space waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the superconducting cable is cooled with liquid nitrogen to maintain superconducting state, then the electrical resistance approaches zero and current transfer capability increases, but the cable contracts significantly causing axial forces that can lead to connection issues and system instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical suspension section that adds a height dimension to the cable installation. This allows the cable to contract vertically rather than horizontally, preventing axial forces from being transmitted to joint boxes while maintaining the superconducting state through liquid nitrogen cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension section is configured with a specific curvature (sine or cosine function shape) that allows the cable to contract along its length without creating harmful axial forces. The curved geometry distributes the contraction force along the cable's path rather than concentrating it at connection points.
2Reliability
If joint boxes are made slidable to accommodate cable contraction, then connection stability improves, but device complexity increases and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contraction accommodation function from the joint box structure itself and relocates it to the suspension section. This allows joint boxes to remain simple fixed structures while the suspension section absorbs all contraction movement, significantly reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If horizontal detour space is created to accommodate cable contraction, then connection reliability improves, but installation space waste increases and interference with other cables occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating horizontal detour space, the patent utilizes the vertical dimension by suspending the cable in the air with a specific height. This vertical suspension allows contraction accommodation without occupying additional horizontal installation space, preventing interference with other cables laid in the same trench or conduit.
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 effectively reduces axial forces applied to joint boxes, enhances system stability by allowing fixed connections, and optimizes space usage, preventing interference with other cables.
Implementation Method 1
A superconducting wire has an electrical resistance approaching '0' at a certain temperature and may thus have high current transfer capability even at a low voltage
Implementation Method 2
the superconducting cable may contract due to use of liquid nitrogen which is extremely low temperature refrigerant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(d)
AI summary
The present invention relates to a superconducting power system which is capable of effectively absorbing an axial force caused by the contraction of a superconducting cable when the superconducting cable is cooled and in which the superconducting cable is installed in the form of minimizing unnecessary waste of an installation space, and a method of installing a superconducting cable.