Superconducting electrical power distribution network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional superconducting electrical power distribution networks face challenges due to energy-intensive and complex cryogenic cooling systems, particularly at electrical connections, which restrict widespread adoption and are not optimized for cooling priorities across components.
Innovation Solution
A holistic approach to cryogenic cooling systems is implemented, featuring superconducting bus bars and cables with dedicated coolant circuits that prioritize cooling at electrical connection joints, utilizing cryogenic fluids like helium or hydrogen, and incorporating cooling junctions to enhance mass flow and reduce quenching risks, along with heat exchange units for efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cooling systems are used for superconducting power distribution networks, then cooling coverage is provided, but the systems are energy intensive, complex and incur significant weight penalty
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into component-specific cooling circuits, with each circuit dedicated to cooling a particular component (bus bars, cables, joints, or transformers). This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized independently for its specific thermal requirements, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective cooling coverage across all superconducting components.
2Reliability
If conventional cooling systems are used for superconducting power distribution networks, then cooling coverage is provided, but the systems are energy intensive
Solution Approach 1:
Each cooling circuit is designed with local quality characteristics matched to its specific component's thermal needs. For example, joints with higher heat generation receive circuits with higher coolant flow rates, while bus bars receive circuits optimized for their distributed heat load. This localized optimization ensures energy is consumed efficiently where needed, reducing overall energy intensity while maintaining effective cooling.
3Ease of operation
If cooling circuits are designed separately for each component, then component-specific cooling is provided, but cooling priorities and synergies are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining separate component-specific cooling circuits, the system merges these circuits into a coordinated network managed by a central controller. The controller optimizes the operation of all circuits synergistically, considering cooling priorities and inter-component thermal relationships. This merging approach preserves the benefits of component-specific cooling while adding system-level optimization capabilities that reduce overall complexity.
4Device complexity
If cooling systems do not prioritize electrical connection joints, then system simplicity is maintained, but quenching risks increase due to heat production at joints
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system incorporates preliminary action by designing dedicated cooling circuits that prioritize electrical connection joints, which are identified as high-risk locations for heat accumulation and quenching. These circuits are configured to deliver enhanced cooling capacity to joints before thermal problems can develop, proactively preventing quenching events rather than reacting to them after they occur.
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 approach reduces cooling times and the likelihood of quenching, allows for rapid network recovery, and optimizes coolant usage, leading to lighter, more efficient cryogenic cooling systems with improved robustness and reduced complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a bus bar flow path which extends along and thereby cools the bus bar, cable flow paths which respectively extend along and thereby cool the cables
Implementation Method 2
cooling junctions where the bus bar and cable flow paths meet at the electrical connection joints
Data Source
AI summary
A superconducting electrical power distribution network has a superconducting bus bar and superconducting cables electrically connected to the bus bar at respective joints distributed along the bus bar. The network further has a first coolant system for providing first cryogenic fluid and first circuits for circulating the first cryogenic fluid provided by the first coolant system. The first circuits comprise: a bus bar flow path which extends along and thereby cools the bus bar, cable flow paths which respectively extend along and thereby cool the cables, cooling junctions where the bus bar and cable flow paths meet at the electrical connection joints, inflow lines which send the first cryogenic fluid from the first coolant system to the flow paths, and outflow lines which remove the first cryogenic fluid from the flow paths.