Superconducting Current Feed-Through for Cryogenic Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current feed-throughs for superconducting magnets and switches in cryogen vessels face challenges in maintaining low electrical resistance and hermetic sealing while ensuring electrical isolation, especially when traversing a hermetic barrier between cryogen and vacuum environments.
Innovation Solution
A current feed-through design featuring a mounting feature with an electrically conductive member and an isolator that ensures mechanical integrity and electrical isolation, incorporating a superconducting wire within the conductive member to create a continuous superconducting circuit path across a hermetic barrier, using materials like copper or aluminum with ceramic or polymer coatings for sealing and insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical isolation is enhanced between mounting feature and member, then electrical isolation is improved, but mechanical integrity and current transmission are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The feed-through assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the mounting flange for mechanical attachment, the electrical isolator for electrical isolation, and the electrically conductive member for current transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall mechanical integrity through their interconnected design.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed-through employs composite construction combining different materials with complementary properties: the mounting flange (typically metal) provides mechanical strength and vacuum sealing, the electrical isolator (ceramic or polymer) provides electrical isolation, and the electrically conductive member (copper or aluminum) provides low-resistance current transmission. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between electrical isolation and mechanical integrity.
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 solution enables a low-resistance, cryogen-tight, and electrically isolated superconducting path between superconducting magnet coils and switches, maintaining mechanical integrity and electrical isolation, thus facilitating the assembly of a complete superconducting circuit across the hermetic barrier.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical isolator (20) connecting the mounting feature and the member in respective positions, to ensure mechanical integrity and electrical isolation between the mounting feature and the member
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a superconducting wire within the conductive member to create a continuous superconducting circuit path across a hermetic barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A current feed-through has a mounting feature, a member accessible from both sides of the mounting feature and an electrical isolator, connecting the mounting feature and the member in respective positions, to ensure mechanical integrity and electrical isolation between the mounting feature and the member.