Superconducting Levitation Surface Tape Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Superconducting materials in magnetic fields face challenges with flux pinning, particularly at the edges of tapes, leading to instability and frictional forces, which affect levitation and suspension capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The use of planar tapes with superconducting material on at least one face, arranged in specific configurations where edges of adjacent sections butt together in different directions, with additional layers overlaying seams to enhance flux pinning and stabilize levitation, utilizing a substrate and potentially open-celled foam for cooling and insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If planar tapes with superconducting material are arranged in specific configurations, then stable levitation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The superconducting structure is divided into multiple discrete planar tapes arranged in specific configurations (first set and second set at different orientations). This segmentation allows the system to achieve stable levitation through distributed flux pinning while maintaining modular construction that manages complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second set of tapes oriented at different directions relative to the first set, adding angular dimensionality to the configuration. This multi-directional arrangement enhances flux pinning stability by addressing flux movement in multiple directions, thereby achieving reliable levitation.
2Reliability
If additional layers overlay seams to enhance flux pinning, then levitation stability improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Additional layers are pre-positioned to overlay the seams where tapes join together. This preliminary placement ensures that flux pinning is enhanced at the critical seam locations before the structure is finalized, improving levitation stability without requiring post-assembly adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies additional superconducting material specifically at the seam locations where flux pinning is weakest, rather than uniformly throughout the entire structure. This localized enhancement targets the specific problem areas, improving overall stability while minimizing additional material and manufacturing complexity.
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 achieves stable levitation and suspension by optimizing flux pinning forces, reducing frictional resistance, and enhancing cooling efficiency, allowing for stable spatial locking and counteracting deviations in magnetic fields.
Implementation Method 1
Superconducting materials in magnetic fields face challenges with flux pinning, particularly at the edges of tapes, leading to instability and frictional forces
Implementation Method 2
A stator of the bearing has a superconductor thin film assembly positioned to interact with a magnet to produce a levitation force on a shaft of the bearing
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, consisting of a substrate and planar tapes which have respective mutually-opposing first and second faces. The tapes have edges connecting the faces, and each tape has a superconducting material on at least the first face thereof. The tapes may be arranged on the substrate so as to define at least a first set of at least one of the planar tapes overlying a surface of the substrate so that the edges of adjacent sections of the tapes in the first set butt together along a first direction over the surface. The tapes may also be arranged so that a second set of at least another one of the planar tapes overly the first set so that the edges of adjacent sections of the tapes in the second set butt together along a second direction that is different from the first direction.