Abstract: A system for protecting superconducting generator field coils including a controller configured to monitor for a quenching of a superconducting field coil of a generator and control a dissipation of a current flow in the superconducting field coil in an event of the quenching, and an armature coil of the generator configured to cause the dissipation of the current flow in the superconducting field coil responsive to the controller in the event of the quenching of the superconducting field coil. A method for protecting superconducting generator field coils including monitoring for a quenching of a superconducting field coil of a generator, and dissipating a current flow in the superconducting field coil via an armature coil of the generator in response to a detection of the quenching.

Abstract: A system for generating power includes a homopolar electrical generator having, a superconducting field coil operative to create a magnetic field, and a homopolar rotor assembly operative to rotate in the magnetic field such that a rotating magnetic field couples with a stationary winding by an interaction of a rotating permeance wave produced by the homopolar rotor assembly and the magnetic field created by the superconducting field coil., and a wind turbine mechanically linked to the homopolar electrical generator operative to rotate the homopolar rotor assembly.

Abstract: A superconducting direct drive wind generator including an armature coil constructed of a first superconducting material and a field coil constructed of a second superconducting material, wherein, during operation of the generator, the armature coil and the field coil are in electromagnetic communication and the field coil produces a magnetic field in response to an excitation current flow therethrough that induces an output current flow in the armature coil that generates an electrical power output.

Abstract: An electrical component comprises a superconductive wire, the wire comprising a first wire segment joined to a second wire segment, wherein the first wire segment and the second wire segment differ in at least one property selected from the group consisting of magnetic field tolerance, temperature tolerance, ac loss, and strain tolerance, and wherein the magnetic field tolerance is measured by the relationship of critical current Ic to magnetic field H at a given temperature T below critical temperature Tc, the temperature tolerance is measured by the relationship of critical current Ic to temperature T at a given magnetic field below critical magnetic field Hc, the ac loss is measured by the amount of ac loss versus the frequency and magnitude of applied ac currents and fields, and the strain tolerance is measured by critical current Ic degradation with strain.

Abstract: A machine includes a stator assembly that includes a stator yoke, a pair of armature coils mechanically coupled to the stator yoke, and a stationary superconducting field coil. The stator yoke comprises a magnetic material. The machine further includes a shaft rotatably mounted in the stator yoke, the shaft comprising a non-magnetic material. The machine further includes a rotor assembly rotationally engaged with the shaft. The rotor assembly includes a rotor disk extending between the armature coils, the rotor disk having an inner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion of the rotor disk includes a number of circumferentially-spaced, magnetic poles. The rotor disk is coupled to the shaft for rotation about the shaft and generation of a rotating permeance wave.

Abstract: A machine includes a shaft adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis and formed of a magnetic material and a rotor assembly rotationally engaged with the shaft The rotor assembly includes a pair of rotor disks comprising a magnetic material, each of the rotor disks having a number of magnetic poles, the magnetic poles being spaced apart circumferentially. The rotor disks are coupled to the shaft for rotation about the shaft and generation of a rotating permeance wave. The machine further includes a stator assembly that includes a magnetic core stator disposed between the rotor disks, a number of armature windings supported on the magnetic core stator, and a stationary superconducting field coil disposed between the magnetic core stator and the shaft. The stationary superconducting field coil is configured as a stationary magneto-motive force (MMF) source for the rotating permeance wave produced by the rotor assembly to produce a rotating magnetic field.

Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided. The refrigeration system includes at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device. The thermal blocking thermotunneling device comprises a first and a second surface separated by a nanoscale gap of less than about 20 nm, such that tunneling of electrons causes a unidirectional transfer of heat from the first surface to the second surface. Further, the at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device has a thermal back path of less than about 70 percent.

Abstract: Method for joining wires using low resistivity joints is provided. More specifically, methods of joining one or more wires having superconductive filaments, such as magnesium diboride filaments, are provided. The wires are joined by a low resistivity joint to form wires of a desired length for applications, such in medical imaging applications.

Abstract: A high power density generator contains an armature structure having a plurality of conductors and at least one heat transfer tube thermally coupled to the conductors. The tube is hollow so as to allow a heat transfer fluid to pass through it. The tube is made of a material having a thermal conductivity ? of at least 20 W/mK, an electrical breakdown strength of at least 60 V/mil, and a mechanical strength adequate for handling, manufacturing and operation. In an embodiment of the invention, the tube is made of a ceramic material.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device and a method for conveying a fluid from a fluid transfer device to a rotating member are provided. The fluid transfer device includes a housing disposed around a first rotating member extending along an axis. The housing has a first plurality of apertures extending therethrough that communicate with the fluid source. The first rotating member has a second plurality of passageways extending from a first exterior surface of the first rotating member to a third passageway extending generally axially within the first rotating member. Further, at least a portion of the second plurality of passageways communicate with at least a portion of the first plurality of apertures, wherein the fluid flows through the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of passageways to the third passageway in the first rotating member.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting a superconductor from a quench condition. A quench protection system is provided to protect the superconductor from damage due to a quench condition. The quench protection system comprises a voltage detector operable to detect voltage across the superconductor. The system also comprises a frequency filter coupled to the voltage detector. The frequency filter is operable to couple voltage signals to a control circuit that are representative of a rise in superconductor voltage caused by a quench condition and to block voltage signals that are not. The system is operable to detect whether a quench condition exists in the superconductor based on the voltage signal received via the frequency filter and to initiate a protective action in response.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a thermoelectric device that includes first and second thermally conductive substrates and first and second thermoelements disposed between the first and second thermally conductive substrates, wherein the first thermoelement, or the second thermoelement, or both the first and second thermoelements comprises a thermally insulating and electrically conducting tunneling element having a tunneling gap.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system having a vacuum vessel positioned about an imaging volume, one or more high temperature superconducting coils positioned within the vacuum vessel, and a cryocooler coupled to the vacuum vessel to operate the superconducting coil at a temperature above 10 K. At least one gradient coil is positioned between an imaging volume and the superconducting coil without any thermal shielding interposed between the gradient coil and the superconducting coil. A method of forming an MRI system includes forming at least one winding of the main field generating coils with high temperature superconducting material, positioning the winding in a vessel for receiving cryogenic fluid, and positioning a gradient coil between the imaging volume and the winding without placing a thermal radiation shield between the gradient coil and the winding.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling a superconductive rotor coil. The system comprises a rotatable shaft coupled to the superconductive rotor coil. The rotatable shaft may comprise an axial passageway extending through the rotatable shaft and a first passageway extending through a wall of the rotatable shaft to the axial passageway. The axial passageway and the first passageway are operable to convey a cryogenic fluid to the superconductive rotor coil through the wall of the rotatable shaft. A cryogenic transfer coupling may be provided to supply cryogenic fluid to the first passageway.

Abstract: A machine includes a stator assembly that includes a stator yoke, a pair of armature coils mechanically coupled to the stator yoke, and a stationary superconducting field coil. The stator yoke comprises a magnetic material. The machine further includes a shaft rotatably mounted in the stator yoke, the shaft comprising a non-magnetic material. The machine further includes a rotor assembly rotationally engaged with the shaft. The rotor assembly includes a rotor disk extending between the armature coils, the rotor disk having an inner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion of the rotor disk includes a number of circumferentially-spaced, magnetic poles. The rotor disk is coupled to the shaft for rotation about the shaft and generation of a rotating permeance wave.

Abstract: A machine includes a shaft adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis and formed of a magnetic material and a rotor assembly rotationally engaged with the shaft The rotor assembly includes a pair of rotor disks comprising a magnetic material, each of the rotor disks having a number of magnetic poles, the magnetic poles being spaced apart circumferentially. The rotor disks are coupled to the shaft for rotation about the shaft and generation of a rotating permeance wave. The machine further includes a stator assembly that includes a magnetic core stator disposed between the rotor disks, a number of armature windings supported on the magnetic core stator, and a stationary superconducting field coil disposed between the magnetic core stator and the shaft. The stationary superconducting field coil is configured as a stationary magneto-motive force (MMF) source for the rotating permeance wave produced by the rotor assembly to produce a rotating magnetic field.

Abstract: A machine includes a rotatable rotor assembly having a number of salient poles. The machine further includes a stationary stator assembly having concentric inner and outer stators, at least one stationary superconducting field coil and at least one stator coil. The stationary superconducting field coil is disposed between the inner and outer stators and is mounted on at least one of the inner and outer stators. The stationary superconducting field coil and the salient poles are configured relative to each other, such that when the rotor assembly is rotated relative to the stator assembly around a predetermined axis, a rotating magnetic field is produced with an airgap flux direction substantially along the predetermined axis. The interaction between the stationary superconducting field coil and the rotating poles provides the only source of a time varying magnetic flux supplied to the stator coil.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device and a method for conveying a fluid from a fluid transfer device to a rotating member are provided. The fluid transfer device includes a housing disposed around a first rotating member extending along an axis. The housing has a first plurality of apertures extending therethrough that communicate with the fluid source. The first rotating member has a second plurality of passageways extending from a first exterior surface of the first rotating member to a third passageway extending generally axially within the first rotating member. Further, at least a portion of the second plurality of passageways communicate with at least a portion of the first plurality of apertures, wherein the fluid flows through the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of passageways to the third passageway in the first rotating member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is method for making a wire comprising contacting a first end of a first superconducting wire with a second end of a second superconducting wire, wherein the superconducting wire comprises a superconducting filament having a superconducting composition comprising magnesium diboride; heating the first end of the first superconducting wire with the second end of the second superconducting wire at a point to form a joint, wherein the superconducting filament having the superconducting composition is in continuous electrical contact with any other part of the superconducting filament after the formation of the joint.

Abstract: A machine, such as a motor or generator, includes a rotatable rotor assembly comprising a plurality of salient poles and a stationary stator assembly comprising a superconducting field coil. The superconducting field coil and the salient poles are configured relative to each other such when the rotor assembly is rotated relative to the stator assembly around a predetermined axis, a rotating magnetic field is produced with an airgap flux direction substantially along the predetermined axis.