Superconductor Cable Internal Cooling Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing superconductor electric cables require significant energy to maintain the necessary cooling temperatures, which is inefficient and can lead to operational issues such as local overheating and mechanical wear.
Innovation Solution
The electric cable design features a support body with internal flow ducts and grooves for coolant fluid to directly contact the superconductor strips, along with compression spacers to secure the strips and prevent movement, allowing for enhanced cooling efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the CICC technique is used to cool the superconductor cables, then the superconductor materials can be maintained at critical temperatures, but a considerable quantity of energy is required for cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds flow channels directly within the support body structure itself, nesting the cooling fluid passage inside the structural element. This eliminates the need for separate external cooling ducts and reduces the overall system complexity and energy requirements for cooling the superconductor cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The support body serves dual functions: providing mechanical support for the superconductor strips and simultaneously acting as the cooling structure with integrated flow channels. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate cooling systems and reduces energy consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support body is made rigid to securely hold the superconductor strips, then mechanical stability is improved, but flexibility for winding into coils is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support body is constructed from flexible material that can be wound into coils while maintaining its structural integrity. The flexibility of the material allows the support body to adapt to curved configurations without compromising its ability to securely hold the superconductor strips in place.
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 design enables more effective cooling of the superconductor materials, reducing the energy needed to maintain critical temperatures and preventing overheating and mechanical wear, thereby improving the operational reliability of the cables.
Implementation Method 1
at least one flow channel 11 in each seat 7 in order to make coolant fluid flow, also within the seats 7 themselves... in direct contact with the strips 3
Implementation Method 2
Superconductor materials are materials that have very low or zero resistivity below a certain temperature, termed critical temperature T C
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A superconductor electric cable comprises a support body (2) with elongated form having a cavity (4) at its interior defining a flow duct (5) for a coolant fluid; a plurality of strips (3) at least partly made of superconductor material associated with said support body (2); a plurality of guides (6) fixed to said support body (2) defining respective seats (7) for housing the strips (3); the cable has a flow channel (11) for the coolant fluid in each seat (7).