Superconductor Cable Thermal Contraction Locking Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing thermal contraction in superconducting cables, such as using flexible conductors or sliding contacts, are impractical for long cables due to significant length changes and require extensive civil engineering, making them economically unfeasible and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
Applying a radial blocking force to the external screen of the superconducting cable near its ends, which maintains a constant pitch and prevents longitudinal movement, while a radial pressure on other cable layers blocks thermal contraction, using a locking arrangement with a ring and annular flanges secured to a ground support device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible conductors or sliding contacts are used to manage thermal contraction, then the cable can accommodate length changes, but the solution becomes economically unfeasible and requires extensive civil engineering works
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the contraction management function from the cable body and transfers it to the external screen. By applying blocking force only to the screen at specific locations, the complex civil engineering works are replaced with a simple localized blocking mechanism that prevents longitudinal movement without requiring flexible conductors or sliding contacts
Solution Approach 2:
The external screen acts as an intermediary element that absorbs and manages the thermal contraction forces. The screen, being mechanically resistant and wound at a certain pitch, serves as a mediator between the contracting cable body and the external environment, allowing the blocking force to be applied indirectly through the screen rather than directly to the cable body
2Reliability
If the screen is blocked at both ends to prevent thermal contraction, then longitudinal movement is prevented, but the winding pitch of the screen wires would naturally decrease due to contraction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking force is applied in advance to prevent the screen wires from tightening and reducing their winding pitch. By blocking the screen at both ends before thermal contraction occurs, the natural tendency of the wires to tighten and decrease pitch is counteracted, maintaining the original winding geometry while preventing longitudinal movement
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking force is applied locally at specific positions (both ends) of the screen rather than uniformly along the entire length. This localized blocking is sufficient to prevent thermal contraction while allowing the screen to maintain its winding pitch in the blocked regions, without requiring uniform constraint along the whole cable
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 solution effectively manages thermal contraction without affecting the cable's continuity, is simple, and inexpensive, capable of withstanding high forces, and does not require specific screen connections, thus addressing the impracticality of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
This cooling to a temperature of the order of -200° C. causes a significant thermal contraction of the cable which must be managed.
Data Source
AI summary
The method involves mechanically applying a locking force stressing an external screen in a locking location (5A, 5B) adjacent ends of a superconducting cable. The screen is mechanically locked between each of the ends of the cable and an enclosure i.e. cryostat (1) filled with cryogenic fluid. The screen is mechanically locked in an additional cryostat (6A) sandwiched between each of the ends of the cable and the enclosure. The locking force is transmitted to a support device (7A) fixed to ground (7). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a locking arrangement for implementing a method of managing thermal contraction of superconducting cable (2) a method for positioning the locking arrangement.