Abstract: Superconductor wires or layers having improved properties and methods for making the same are described. The superconducting layer includes a rare earth element-alkaline earth element-transition metal oxide having an average stacking fault density that is greater than about 0.01 nm?1, wherein two or more rare earth cations form the rare earth element. To form the superconductor layer of the present invention, a layer having a rare earth element-alkaline earth element-transition metal oxide substantially in a first crystal structure can be provided to a substrate where two or more rare earth cations form the rare earth element. The layer can then be heated at a temperature that is greater than 550° C. under oxidizing conditions to form a high-temperature superconducting layer substantially in a second crystal structure.

Abstract: A cryogenically-cooled HTS cable is configured to be included within a utility power grid having a maximum fault current that would occur in the absence of the cryogenically-cooled HTS cable. The cryogenically-cooled HTS cable includes a continuous liquid cryogen coolant path for circulating a liquid cryogen. A continuously flexible arrangement of HTS wires has an impedance characteristic that attenuates the maximum fault current by at least 10%. The continuously flexible arrangement of HTS wires is configured to allow the cryogenically-cooled HTS cable to operate, during the occurrence of a maximum fault condition, with a maximum temperature rise within the HTS wires that is low enough to prevent the formation of gas bubbles within the liquid cryogen.

Abstract: A superconductor for mitigating the effects of local current disruptions in a superconducting filament. The superconductor comprises superconducting filaments covered by a medium in electrical communication with the filaments. The covering medium has anisotropic conductivity, the conductivity in a direction substantially aligned with the filaments being selected to stabilize the superconductor near the critical temperature, and the conductivity of the covering in a direction substantially perpendicular to the filaments being selected to permit controlled current sharing between the filaments, especially when a filament is compromised, while simultaneously limiting alternating current (ac) losses. In various embodiments, the covering comprises a wire mesh having longitudinal wires made of a first material having a first conductivity, and transverse wires made of a second material having a second conductivity, different from the first conductivity.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a method of making a superconductor wire includes providing an oxide superconductor layer overlaying a substrate; forming a substantially continuous barrier layer over the oxide superconductor layer, the barrier layer including metal; depositing a layer of metal particles over the barrier layer, said depositing including applying a liquid including metal particles over the barrier layer; and sintering the layer of metal particles to form a substantially continuous metal layer over the barrier layer. In one or more embodiments, the oxide superconductor layer is oxygen-deficient, and the method may include oxidizing the oxygen-deficient oxide superconductor layer. At least a portion of the sintering and the oxidizing may occur simultaneously, for example by performing them at an oxygen partial pressure and a temperature sufficient to both sinter the metal particles and to oxidize the oxygen-deficient oxide superconductor layer.

Abstract: A support module is provided for use in a rotor assembly of a rotating machine. The support module is disposed on the rotor body, supports high temperature superconductor rotor windings within the rotor assembly, and thermally decouples the cold portions of the rotor assembly, including windings and support tube, from the ambient temperature rotor body and drive shaft. The support module includes a frame disposed on the rotor body, a support block connected to the rotor winding and suspended within the frame, and thermally non-conductive straps extending from each of a pair of opposed sides of the support block to the frame, the straps suspending the support block within the frame.

Abstract: A stator assembly for use in a superconducting generator operated at frequencies up to 10 Hz is disclosed. The stator assembly includes a ferromagnetic stator winding support having a plurality of teeth defining slots, the slots configured to receive and support stator windings. The stator winding support is formed so that the ratio of the sum of the widths of the slots to the sum of the widths of the teeth and slots is in the range of 0.65 to 0.90.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting solar power includes a photovoltaic array for generating a DC voltage; a discharge circuit for causing the DC voltage to decay from a first value to a second value; and an inverter circuit for transforming an output voltage from the discharge circuit into an AC voltage.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a power conversion system includes a power converter, a transformer, and a voltage adjustment device. The power converter is configured to receive a variable DC power generated by a power generation device and to convert the received DC power to AC power at a first voltage. The transformer is configured to receive the AC power from the power converter and to deliver AC power at a second voltage to a utility power network. The voltage adjustment device is configured to adjust the first voltage to a target value determined on the basis of a voltage of the DC power.

Abstract: A system and method are described for detecting failures of switches in a switching network including a plurality of switches. The sensing circuit includes a plurality of detecting networks, the plurality of detecting networks being fewer than the plurality of switches, each detecting network providing signals indicative of a failure of at least one of the switches.

Abstract: A laminated superconductor wire includes a superconductor wire assembly, which includes a first superconductor insert comprising a first high temperature superconductor layer overlaying a first substrate and a second superconductor insert comprising a second high temperature superconductor layer overlaying a second substrate. The first and second superconductor inserts are joined together at their respective substrates. An electrically conductive structure substantially surrounds the superconductor wire assembly.

Abstract: A stator for an electrical machine includes a back iron including a substantially cylindrical annular structure having an inner surface and an axis. A plurality of supports are fabricated of non-magnetic material, each support extending parallel to the axis of the annular structure along the inner surface of the annular structure, each support including a primary base and at least two primary support members. The primary bases substantially conform to the inner surface of the back iron with the primary support members extending radially inward from the primary base towards the axis of the annular structure. A stator winding is positioned between the at least two primary support members and between the primary base of the support and the axis of the annular structure.

Abstract: A process for preparing a superconductor article includes depositing a precursor solution onto a substrate to form a precursor film, the precursor solution comprising precursor components to a rare earth-alkaline earth metal-transition metal oxide in one or more solvents, decomposing the precursor film to form an intermediate film comprising the rare earth metal, the alkaline earth metal, and the transition metal of the first precursor solution, selectively removing portions of the intermediate film, wherein a patterned intermediate film is obtained, and treating the patterned intermediate film to form a rare earth-alkaline earth metal-transition metal oxide superconductor.

Abstract: A superconducting wire includes first and second superconducting layers disposed on one or more substrates in stacked relationship, the first superconducting layer comprising a high temperature superconducting oxide of a first composition and the second superconducting layer comprising a high temperature superconducting layer of a second composition, wherein the first and second compositions are different. The first superconductor layer optionally includes a high temperature superconductor composition selected to provide enhanced critical current (Ic(c)) in the presence of magnetic fields perpendicular to surface of the superconducting layer (H//c). The second superconductor layer optionally includes a high temperature superconductor composition selected to provide enhanced critical current (Ic) in the presence of magnetic fields parallel to surface of the superconducting layer (H//ab).

Abstract: A superconductor for mitigating the effects of local current disruptions in a superconducting filament. The superconductor comprises superconducting filaments covered by a medium in electrical communication with the filaments. The covering medium has anisotropic conductivity, the conductivity in a direction substantially aligned with the filaments being selected to stabilize the superconductor near the critical temperature, and the conductivity of the covering in a direction substantially perpendicular to the filaments being selected to permit controlled current sharing between the filaments, especially when a filament is compromised, while simultaneously limiting alternating current (ac) losses. In various embodiments, the covering comprises a wire mesh having longitudinal wires made of a first material having a first conductivity, and transverse wires made of a second material having a second conductivity, different from the first conductivity.

Abstract: A support module is provided for use in a rotor assembly of a rotating machine. The support module is disposed on the rotor body, supports high temperature superconductor rotor windings within the rotor assembly, and thermally decouples the cold portions of the rotor assembly, including windings and support tube, from the ambient temperature rotor body and drive shaft. The support module includes a frame disposed on the rotor body, a support block connected to the rotor winding and suspended within the frame, and thermally non-conductive straps extending from each of a pair of opposed sides of the support block to the frame, the straps suspending the support block within the frame.

Abstract: A superconducting transformer system is configured to be included within a utility power grid having a known fault current level. The superconducting transformer system includes a non-superconducting transformer interconnected between a first node and a second node of the utility power grid. A superconducting transformer is interconnected between the first node and the second node of the utility power grid. The superconducting transformer and the non-superconducting transformer are electrically connected in parallel. The superconducting transformer has a lower series impedance than the non-superconducting transformer when the superconducting transformer is operated below a critical current level and a critical temperature. The superconducting transformer is configured to have a series impedance that is at least N times the series impedance of the non-superconducting transformer when the superconducting transformer is operated at or above one or more of the critical current level and the critical temperature.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated superconductor wire includes providing an assembly, where the assembly includes a substrate; a superconductor layer overlaying a surface of the substrate, the superconductor layer having a defined pattern; and a cap layer; and slitting the assembly in accordance with the defined pattern of the superconductor layer to form a sealed wire. Slitting the assembly in accordance with the defined pattern may form multiple sealed wires, and the substrate may be substantially wider than the sealed wires.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin film includes disposing a precursor solution onto a substrate to form a precursor film. The precursor solution contains precursor components to a rare-earth/alkaline-earth-metal/transition-metal oxide including a salt of a rare earth element, a salt of an alkaline earth metal, and a salt of a transition metal in one or more solvents, wherein at least one of the salts is a fluoride-containing salt.

Abstract: A two-sided joint for splicing two laminated wires together, while preserving the mechanical integrity of the wire is disclosed. The two-sided joint can splice two laminated HTS wires having tapered ends and includes a bottom strap and a top strap. Under one aspect, a laminated, spliced superconductor wire includes a superconductor joint, which includes first and second superconductor wires, each wire including a laminate layer, a substrate layer overlaying the laminate layer, a buffer layer overlaying the substrate layer, a superconductor layer overlaying the buffer layer, a gap layer overlaying the superconductor layer, and a laminate layer overlaying the gap layer, a first HTS strap in electrical connection with the second laminate layer of the first laminate wire and the second laminate layer of the second laminate wire, and a backing strap proximate to the first laminate layer.

Abstract: Power compensation is provided from a power compensation device to a utility power network carrying a nominal voltage. The power compensation device has a steady-state power delivery characteristic. The power compensation is providing by detecting a change of a predetermined magnitude in the nominal voltage on the utility power network and controlling the power compensation device to deliver, for a first period of time and in response to the detected change in the nominal voltage, reactive power to the utility power network. The power compensation device is controlled to deliver, for a second period of time following the first period of time, reactive power to the utility power network at a level that is a factor N(N>1) greater than the steady-state power delivery characteristic of the power compensation device.