Superconducting Current Limiter Coil With Conductive Spacers for Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current superconducting current limiters face challenges in handling high currents and voltages efficiently, particularly in high-voltage applications, due to insulation issues and inadequate cooling, which can lead to material damage and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates multiple superconducting cables wound in parallel with electrically conductive spacers between them, allowing for effective cooling and current diversion around hotspots, using insulating and conductive spacers to maintain electrical insulation and facilitate heat transfer, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple superconducting cables are wound in parallel to handle high currents, then the critical current capacity is improved, but the insulation problems between cables worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single conductor into multiple separate superconducting cables wound in parallel. Each cable is electrically isolated from others by insulating spacers, allowing the system to handle higher total current while maintaining proper insulation between individual conductors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrically insulating spacers as intermediary elements between adjacent superconducting cables. These spacers prevent electrical breakdown and insulation failures that would occur if cables were placed directly adjacent to each other at high voltages.
2Volume of moving object
If compact coil windings are used to limit device bulk, then the device volume is reduced, but the cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electrically conductive spacers with high thermal conductivity as intermediary elements between superconducting cables. These spacers facilitate efficient heat transfer from the cables to the cooling fluid while maintaining electrical insulation, thus improving cooling performance without significantly increasing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cooling fluid that flows through the coil windings to actively remove heat from the superconducting cables. The cooling fluid circulates through channels formed by the spacer arrangement, providing effective thermal management for the compact coil structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electrically insulating spacers are used between cables, then insulation is improved, but heat transfer capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electrically conductive spacers with high thermal conductivity as intermediary elements between superconducting cables. These spacers facilitate efficient heat transfer from the cables to the cooling fluid while maintaining electrical insulation, thus improving cooling performance without significantly increasing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses spacers made of electrically conductive materials with high thermal conductivity, creating a composite structure that simultaneously provides electrical insulation between cables and efficient thermal conduction to the cooling fluid, resolving the contradiction between insulation and heat transfer.
4Volume of moving object
If superconducting cables are placed close together to reduce device size, then the device volume is reduced, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electrically conductive spacers with high thermal conductivity as intermediary elements between superconducting cables. These spacers facilitate efficient heat transfer from the cables to the cooling fluid while maintaining electrical insulation, thus improving cooling performance without significantly increasing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cooling fluid that flows through the coil windings to actively remove heat from the superconducting cables. The cooling fluid circulates through channels formed by the spacer arrangement, providing effective thermal management for the compact coil structure.
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 enhances the critical current capacity, optimizes cooling, and prevents material damage by providing a redundant current path, thus improving the overall performance and reliability of the current limiter for high-voltage applications.
Implementation Method 1
An electrically conductive spacer is arranged between two of said separate superconducting cables, this electrically conductive spacer being able to be traversed by a cooling fluid
Implementation Method 2
These current limiters, which may be resistive, consist of one or more superconducting conductors and have very low resistance during normal operation
Implementation Method 3
When an electrical fault results in a high increase in the current density in the conductor or conductors, or when these are not sufficiently cooled, they lose their superconducting properties, and the current limiter then becomes highly resistive
Data Source
AI summary
A superconducting current limiter having at least one superconducting conductor (3) wound so as to form a coil (2) extending in a single plane and connecting a first electrical connection terminal to a second electrical connection terminal, an electrically insulating spacer (8) being arranged between two turns of the coil. The superconducting conductor (3) consists of at least two separate superconducting cables (5) wound in parallel and whose ends are electrically connected by the first electrical connection terminal and by the second electrical connection terminal, respectively. An electrically conductive spacer (12) is arranged between two of said separate superconducting cables (5), this electrically conductive spacer (12) being able to be traversed by a cooling fluid.