Significant Cryogenic Refrigeration System Having Superconductor Component As Part Of The System Or Having Superconductor Device Or Material To Be Cooled Present Therewith (e.g., Peltier Effect Device, Etc.) Patents (Class 505/163)
  • Patent number: 11783967
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circuit that includes a first component and a plurality of superconducting wires thermally-coupled to the first component. The superconducting wires of the plurality of superconducting wires are arranged and configured such that a threshold superconducting current for each superconducting wire is dependent on an amount of heat received from the first component. The circuit further includes a dielectric material separating the plurality of superconducting wires from one another. A superconducting wire nearest the first component among the plurality of superconducting wires is more than a phonon mean free path of the dielectric material from the first component. The circuit further includes control circuitry electrically-coupled to the plurality of superconducting wires and configured to provide current to each of the plurality of superconducting wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: PSIQUANTUM CORP.
    Inventors: Qiaodan Jin Stone, Gary Gibson
  • Patent number: 11724798
    Abstract: Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transportation networks for cities and metropolitan areas. However, VTOL aircraft can be sensitive to uneven weight distributions, e.g., the payload of an aircraft is primarily loaded in the front, back, left, or right. When the aircraft is loaded unevenly, the center of mass of the aircraft may shift substantially enough to negatively impact performance of the aircraft. Thus, in turn, there is an opportunity that the VTOL may be loaded unevenly if seating, luggage placement, and/or positions of internal components are not coordinated. Among other advantages, dynamically assigning the payloads and adjusting components of the VTOL aircraft can increase VTOL safety by ensuring the VTOL aircraft is loaded evenly and meets all weight requirements; can increase transportation efficiency by increasing rider throughput; and can increase the availability of the VTOL services to all potential riders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: JOBY AERO, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Moore, John Conway Badalamenti, Ian Villa, Adam Warmoth, David Josephson
  • Patent number: 11482358
    Abstract: A control method for a superconducting magnet apparatus comprising steps of: causing a superconducting coil to transition to a superconductive state by causing a cooler to cool the superconducting coil to or below a critical temperature; supplying electric current to the superconducting coil, which has transitioned to the superconductive state, from an excitation power supply; starting a persistent current mode by stopping supply of the electric current; adjusting temperature of the superconducting coil to a specific temperature which is equal to or lower than the critical temperature and higher than a steady operation temperature; and starting a steady operation by cooling the superconducting coil to or below the steady operation temperature, after a specific condition for stabilizing a magnetic field of the superconducting coil is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Saki Amano, Shohei Takami
  • Patent number: 11373784
    Abstract: A conductor assembly for transmitting power includes a former that defines a shape, a superconductor material disposed around the former, and a thermally insulating jacket (TIJ) disposed around and spaced apart from the superconductor material. An outer surface of the superconductor material and an inner surface of the TIJ can define an annulus through which a coolant can flow. The conductor assembly can also include an external layer, disposed around an outside surface of the TIJ, to provide structural support to the conductor assembly. The conductor assembly can also include an electrical insulation layer disposed around the outside surface of the TIJ or around the superconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Veir, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Ashworth, Franco Moriconi, Timothy David Heidel
  • Patent number: 10910879
    Abstract: A wireless power adapter uses a passive conversion circuit to convert an incompatible transmitter-receiver pair into a compatible transmitter-receiver pair. The wireless power adapter transfers power between a main transmitter and main receiver that are incompatible with each other. In one aspect, the wireless power adapter includes an auxiliary receiver coil system, a auxiliary transmitter coil system and a passive conversion circuit. The auxiliary receiver coil system is compatible with the main transmitter and can efficiently receive wireless power transmitted by the main transmitter that is external to the adapter. The auxiliary transmitter coil system is compatible with the main receiver and can produce wireless power to be efficiently transmitted to the main receiver. The passive conversion circuit connects the incompatible main transmitter and main receiver by transferring power from the auxiliary receiver coil system to the auxiliary transmitter coil system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: CONVENIENTPOWER HK LIMITED
    Inventor: Xun Liu
  • Patent number: 10814730
    Abstract: A cryostat intended to be integrated into a maglev transport system, the cryostat comprising at least one superconductive element and a jacket inside which each superconductive element is placed. The cryostat is suitable for maintaining each superconductive element at the desired temperature and the jacket extending along a longitudinal axis (X). The length of each superconductive element along the longitudinal axis (X) is comprised between 30% and 100% of the length of the jacket, and each superconductive element is a bulk element made of superconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: METROLAB
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Caron, Pierre Bernstein, Jacques Noudem, Muhamad Aburas, Elisabeth Delivet, Benoit Bougle
  • Patent number: 10569891
    Abstract: The vehicle receives batteries comprising cells arranged into at least one pack configured to be held in a vehicle structure, the pack being alternatively chosen from among at least one pack(P) and at least one pack(E) which are mechanically interchangeable and electrically substitutable. The pack(P) cells exhibit a maximum power density substantially higher than the pack(E) cells exhibit, and comprise cells exhibiting an energy density per unit mass substantially less than the pack(E) cells exhibit. The maximum electrical power of the pack(P) corresponds to the maximum electrical power needed to accomplish a first vehicle mission and the energy storage capacity of the pack(P) is at least sufficient to accomplish the first mission. The electrical energy storage capacity of the pack(E) corresponds to the electrical energy storage capacity needed to accomplish a second vehicle mission and the maximum electrical power is at least sufficient to accomplish the second mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS SAS
    Inventors: Benoit Ferran, Emmanuel Joubert, Clément Dinel
  • Patent number: 10571535
    Abstract: A novel system and method for detecting a quench of a superconducting conductor and detecting abnormal behavior of a superconducting conductor using acoustic sensor technology in the coolant of a superconducting cable and/or magnet is disclosed. This system and method is not only limited to use for superconductors, but also may be used for any device disposed in liquid and gas. Acoustic sensors are installed along a coolant space of a superconducting conductor and monitor coolant conditions. By monitoring acoustic changes, temperature changes or coolant flow disruption can be detected very quickly by an acoustic sensor array. By disposition of the acoustic sensor array in a coolant flow channel, the acoustic sensor system can quickly detect a local condition, such as the thermal status (temperature) of a superconducting cable and magnet with precise spatial resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Makoto Takayasu
  • Patent number: 9144393
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has a plurality of cooling pipes disposed while being spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal length of the coil assembly, a first manifold connected to a lower end of the plurality of cooling pipes to distribute and supply a coolant to the plurality of cooling pipes, and a second manifold connected to an upper end of the plurality of cooling pipes to be supplied with the coolant from the plurality of cooling pipes, thereby able to evenly cool off the coil assembly in a longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Harrison
  • Patent number: 9082879
    Abstract: A packaged power device involves no soft solder and no wire bonds. The direct-bonded metal layers of two direct metal bonded ceramic substrate assemblies, such as Direct Bonded Aluminum (DBA) substrates, are provided with sintered silver pads. Silver nanoparticle paste is applied to pads on the frontside of a die and the paste is sintered to form silver pads. Silver formed by an evaporative process covers the backside of the die. The die is pressed between the two DBAs such that direct silver-to-silver bonds are formed between sintered silver pads on the frontside of the die and corresponding sintered silver pads of one of the DBAs, and such that a direct silver-to-silver bond is formed between the backside silver of the die and a sintered silver pad of the other DBA. After leadforming, leadtrimming and encapsulation, the finished device has exposed ceramic of both DBAs on outside package surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: IXYS Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan Zommer
  • Patent number: 9037202
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first section of high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable configured to receive a first flow of coolant and to permit the first flow of coolant to flow therethrough. The system may further include a second section of high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable configured to receive a second flow of coolant and to permit the second flow of coolant to flow therethrough. The system may further include a cable joint configured to couple the first section of HTS cable and the second section of HTS cable. The cable joint may be in fluid communication with at least one refrigeration module and may include at least one conduit configured to permit a third flow of coolant between said cable joint and said at least one refrigeration module through a coolant line separate from said first and second sections of HTS cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jie Yuan, James Maguire
  • Publication number: 20150133303
    Abstract: An electrical generator is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: TransLife Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Gregory
  • Publication number: 20150111752
    Abstract: A number of configurations of a high speed electromagnetic turbine (1300) are discussed. The turbine (1300) includes a housing (1301) includes at least superconducting coil (1307) for the generation of a magnetic field, the coil being retained within a cryogenic envelope of a cryogenic body (1306). The turbine (1300) includes also includes rotor assembly including one or more rotors (13091), (13092), (13093), (13094), (13095) and (13096) positioned on shaft (1310). The rotor being received within the bore (1308) formed between the interior walls of the body (1306) such that it is immersed in the magnetic field. As the current is passed through the rotor assembly the induced force due to the interaction of the current with the magnetic is translated into a torque on the shaft (1310).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: HERON ENERGY PTE LTD
    Inventors: Ante Guina, John Kells, Kurt Labes, Stuart Galt, Johannes S. De Beer, David B.T. Sercombe, Rene Fuger
  • Publication number: 20150111753
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus is provided, which comprises a superconducting coil, an induction coil to be in inductive coupling with the superconducting coil, a first refrigerant vessel charged with a first refrigerant in which the superconducting coil is installed; and a second refrigerant vessel charged with a second refrigerant having a melting temperature higher than or a boiling temperature higher than a boiling temperature of the first refrigerant, the second refrigerant vessel in which the induction coil is installed, wherein the second refrigerant vessel is thermally isolated from the first refrigerant vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ryoji NAKAGAWA, Ryuya ANDO, Manabu AOKI
  • Patent number: 9014769
    Abstract: A cryocooler system and a superconducting magnet apparatus having the cryocooler system include a cryocooler having a cool stage that cools a heat shielding unit and a thermal inertia that thermally contacts the cool stage of the cryocooler and has a high heat capacity. The cryocooler system reduces a temperature-increasing rate in a current lead by using the thermal inertia member when the temperature in the current lead is increased due to heat generated when an electrical current applied to a superconducting coil is ramped-up or ramped-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20150099639
    Abstract: In a superconducting magnet apparatus, at least one superconducting winding and an outer vacuum chamber are provided. A thermal radiation shield is located between the superconducting winding and the outer vacuum chamber. A cryogen vessel is positioned within the thermal radiation shield and within the outer vacuum chamber. The superconducting winding is positioned outside of the cryogen vessel. A refrigerator is operable to cool the cryogen vessel to a liquid cryogen temperature and to cool the at least one thermal radiation shield to an intermediate temperature between the liquid cryogen temperature and a temperature of the outer vacuum chamber. A substantial portion of an outer surface of the cryogen vessel has a thermal emissivity at the liquid cryogen temperature which is greater than an average surface emissivity of the superconducting winding by at least 0.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS PLC
    Inventor: Russell Peter Gore
  • Publication number: 20150099640
    Abstract: A cooling container accommodates an object to be cooled and a liquid coolant in the inside. A lid member can close an upper opening of the coolant container. A cooling device is supported by the lid member and includes a cooling section at a lower end. Electric current leads supported by the lid member make electric current flow into the object to be cooled inside the coolant container. The electric current leads each include a thermal resistance section with higher thermal resistance than surrounding portions, positioned above the liquid surface of the liquid coolant in the coolant container. Between the thermal resistance sections and the cooling section, a partition section made from a heat insulation material with a lower end below the thermal resistance sections is provided. An effect of penetrating heat can be prevented, allowing the inside of the coolant container to be efficiently cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Kasahara, Taro Matsuoka, Masakazu Matsui
  • Patent number: 9002423
    Abstract: A superconducting cable is provided. The superconducting cable includes a core part including a former disposed at the center of the core part, one or more superconducting conductive layers with each electric phase disposed at the outside of the former in a radial directions, a insulating layer disposed at the outside of each the conductive layer in a radial direction and a shielding layer disposed at the outermost of the insulating layer; and a cryostat disposed at the outside of the core part in a radial direction with first space being interposed therebetween, having a vacuum part disposed therein and electrically wired to neutral pole (N pole).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LS Cable Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Man Jang, Su Kil Lee, Young Woong Kim, Cheol Hwi Ryu
  • Publication number: 20150087522
    Abstract: A superconducting antenna device of an embodiment includes an array antenna made by stacking a flat antenna having one or more antennas made of a superconducting material and a ground pattern on a low-loss dielectric substrate from a short wave band to an extremely-high frequency band, a vacuum chamber configured to accommodate the array antenna, a refrigerator configured to cool the array antenna, and a vacuum insulating window configured to pass an electromagnetic wave from a short wave band to an extremely-high frequency band in a direction of directivity of the array antenna in the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tamio KAWAGUCHI, Hiroyuki KAYANO, Noritsugu SHIOKAWA, Kohei NAKAYAMA, Mutsuki YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150087523
    Abstract: A non-traditional topology of a superconductive electric motor or generator increases the air gap flux density by reducing stray flux and concentrating lines of flux within the air gap. An electric motor or generator utilizing the invention will include three components: a rotating armature, a permanent magnet stator and a shielding sleeve. The shielding sleeve of the motor is a hollow cylinder that fits between the armature and the stator, and is configured to cool a plurality of high-temperature superconductors within it to a temperature below their critical temperatures. These superconductors are placed at an optimized position to redirect flux and promote greater efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: DOMINION ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Earl Enoch Fleck, Andrew Whitehead
  • Patent number: 8989827
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet includes a superconducting coil, a heat shield surrounding the superconducting coil, a vacuum chamber accommodating the heat shield, a magnetic shield covering at least a part of the vacuum chamber, and a refrigerating machine fixed to the vacuum chamber to cool the superconducting coil through a heat conducting body. The magnetic shield abuts against said vacuum chamber with an elastic body therebetween to support the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hajime Tamura
  • Patent number: 8989828
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus includes: a bobbin around which a superconducting coil is wound, the bobbin serving as a protective resistor; a persistent current switch for supplying a persistent current to the superconducting coil; a first closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the persistent current switch connected in series to the coil; and a second closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the bobbin connected in series to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Nakagawa, Ryuya Ando, Manabu Aoki
  • Patent number: 8988176
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device is configured to include: a refrigerant circulation flowpath in which a refrigerant (R) circulates; a refrigerator for cooling vapor of the refrigerant (R) in the refrigerant circulation flowpath; a superconducting coil cooled by the circulating refrigerant (R); a protective resistor thermally contacting the superconducting coil and having an internal space (S); a high-boiling-point refrigerant supply section for supplying a high-boiling-point refrigerant having a higher boiling point than the refrigerant (R) and frozen by the refrigerant (R) to the internal space (S) in the protective resistor; and a vacuum insulating container for at least accommodating the refrigerant circulation flowpath, the superconducting coil, and the protective resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Aoki, Ryuya Ando, Yukihiro Murata, Ryoji Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20150080221
    Abstract: A joint is provided between two abutting cables, where the cables each have, around a central support, at least one phase layer composed of at least one layer of superconducting material and a neutral layer that are concentric and contained in a shell, filled with cryogenic fluid. The neutral layer of each cable is also stripped, at least one bridging support member is placed between the stripped neutral layers, and a layer of conducting or superconducting material, for, the electrical connection of these neutral layers, is placed on the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastien Delplace, Nicolas Lallouet
  • Publication number: 20150080222
    Abstract: A cryogen recondensing system and a superconducting magnet apparatus including the cryogen recondensing system are provided. The cryogen recondensing system includes a primary reservoir configured to store cryogen for cooling a superconducting coil, a refrigerator configured to recondense gas cryogen of cryogen stored in the primary reservoir, a secondary reservoir configured to store gas cryogen, and a secondary reservoir tube configured to connect the primary reservoir to the secondary reservoir, and wherein the gas cryogen flows through the secondary reservoir tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh-soo KWON, Do-woon KIM, Jae-hyun SHIN
  • Patent number: 8965467
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a superconducting rotating electrical machine and a manufacturing method for a high temperature superconducting film thereof. The superconducting rotating electrical machine includes a stator, and a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator, the rotor having a rotary shaft and a rotor winding. Here, the rotor winding includes tubes disposed on a circumference of the rotary shaft and each forming a passage for a cooling fluid therein, superconducting wires accommodated within the tubes, and a cooling fluid flowing through the inside of the tubes. This configuration may allow for direct heat exchange between the superconducting wires and a refrigerant, resulting in improvement of heat exchange efficiencies of the superconducting wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong Chun Kim, Jin Hong Joo, Tae Sun Moon, Heui Joo Park, Woon Sik Kwon, Jung Hyun Lee, Hyo Jung Kim, Jae Deuk Lee, Sung Hwan Lim
  • Publication number: 20150051079
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a superconducting magnet apparatus includes: a first superconducting coil and a second superconducting coil respectively arranged in a vacuum container; a first cooling unit configured to cool the first superconducting coil; and a second cooling unit configured to cool the second superconducting coil and controlled independently from the first cooling unit by a cooling method different from the cooling method of the first cooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masahiko TAKAHASHI, Taizo Tosaka, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Sadanori Iwai
  • Publication number: 20150045227
    Abstract: A wireless power relay apparatus includes a relay resonator configured to relay power from a source resonator configured to wirelessly transmit the power, to a target resonator configured to wirelessly receive the power through a mutual resonance, the relay resonator having a higher quality factor than the source resonator and the target resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Hyung AHN, Sang Wook KWON, Ki Young KIM, Nam Yun KIM, Dong Zo KIM, Bong Chul KIM, Yun Kwon PARK, Jae Hyun PARK, Keum Su SONG, Young Ho RYU, Byoung Hee LEE
  • Patent number: 8948831
    Abstract: A transmission system is provided with a superconductive cable having three phase conductors and a cryostat, surrounding the phase conductors, and encasing a hollow space, for conducting a cooling agent. For the three phase conductors, a common neutral conductor is provided, being made of electrically normally conducting material, carried out as insulating round conductor and placed outside the cryostat and next to it. The cryostat is made of a circumferentially enclosed, thermally insulated sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Mark Stemmle, Frank Schmidt, Rainer Soika, Beate West
  • Patent number: 8948828
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for cooling a super conducting machine are disclosed, in which at least two condenser areas each make thermal contact with a cold head, and in which the at least two condenser areas each have a connecting line, via which the at least two condenser areas are connected fluidically to an evaporator area. A liquid cooling fluid can be moved or pumped from at least one condenser area into the evaporator area by way of a temperature difference, and a pressure difference associated therewith, in the at least two condenser areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Frank, Peter Van Hasselt
  • Publication number: 20150031545
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided with three superconductive phase conductors each with a conductor, a dielectric and an electrically conductive screen surrounding the dielectric. The three phase conductors are arranged in a cryostat which conducts a cooling agent and which is made from a pipe with a thermal insulation. The screens of each of the conductors are for forming three, or a whole number multiple of three, sections arranged successively in the longitudinal direction by partial screens in a first, a second and a third section at two locations or at two locations spaced apart from each other. The partial screen of a first section of each phase conductor is electrically conductively connected in series to the partial screens of the second section and further to the third section of the two other phase conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Stemmle, Beate West
  • Publication number: 20150018217
    Abstract: A superconductor-magnet bearing system can include a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion. One of the first and second bearing portions can be at least partially composed of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) and another can be at least partially composed of a magnet. The first bearing portion can be disposed at least partially within an opening of the second bearing portion with a gap between the first and second portions. A magnetic bearing portion can include a plurality of rings disposed next to one another. An HTS bearing portion can include a magnet. The bearing portions can be biased toward an alignment with one another. One bearing portion can rotate relative to another bearing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: BenMaan I. Jawdat
  • Publication number: 20150018218
    Abstract: A mechanically operating superconducting switch has two superconducting wires, a respective end of each superconducting wire being embedded in a respective block of superconducting material. A mechanical arrangement is provided for driving respective contact surfaces of the blocks into physical contact with each other, and for separating those services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS PLC
    Inventors: M'Hamed Lakrimi, Adrian Mark Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150011395
    Abstract: A free liquid helium volatilization superconductive magnetic suspension device includes a low temperature container, a refrigeration, a cold screen, a liquid helium container, a superconductive rotor, a suspension coil, a rotor chamber, a liquid tube, a condenser and a pole-axis displacement sensor. The heat generated by the wires of the suspension coil can be prevented transferring to the liquid helium container by the room temperature current lead joint, the high temperature superconducting current lead joint and low temperature superconducting current lead joint. Therefore the volatilization of the liquid helium in the liquid helium container can be reduced. The status of free liquid helium volatilization in the liquid helium container can be reached through refrigeration cooling condenser to liquefy the helium. The device needs not to be input the liquid helium time after time and can run independently for a long term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Xinning Hu, Qiuliang Wang, Yinming Dai, Baozhi Zhao, Hui Wang, Chunyan Cui
  • Patent number: 8923939
    Abstract: A superconduction apparatus includes: a superconductor; a first vacuum vessel configured to accommodate said superconductor; a cooling unit which comprises a cold head configured to generate a temperature at which the superconductor is set to a superconduction state; and a second vacuum vessel configured to accommodate the cooling unit. The head and the superconductor are connected through a first connection hole which communicates the first vacuum vessel and the second vacuum vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8923940
    Abstract: A system with a three phase superconductive electrical transmission element is indicated, in which three superconductive electrical phase conductors are arranged insulated relative to each other and concentrically relative to each other, and in which a thermally insulated tubular cryostat is arranged which has a free space for conducting a cooling medium therethrough. The transmission element has at least two identically constructed cables (K1, K2), each of which has three electrical phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) which are insulated relative to each other and arranged concentrically relative to each other. The phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) of the two cables (K1, K2) are electrically switched in parallel in such a way that always one phase conductor of the one cable is connected to the phase conductor of the other cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Mark Stemmle, Beate West
  • Publication number: 20140378312
    Abstract: A superconducting cable comprises a superconductor 60, two or more coolant passages including an outgoing coolant passage 12 and a returning coolant passage 14 that transfer a coolant that cools the superconductor, and a heat insulating pipe 10 inside which the superconductor 60 and the coolant passages are formed. For the coolant passages, by a double structured tube of an inner tube 6 and an outer tube 8, the outgoing coolant passage 12 is formed in the internal space of the inner tube 6 and the returning coolant passage 14 is formed in the space between the inner tube 6 and the outer tube 8, the inner tube 6 is formed between the outgoing coolant passage 12 and the returning coolant passage 14 of a heat insulating material, the superconductor 60 is disposed on the outer circumferential side of the inner tube 6, and the superconductor is cooled by the coolant that flows through the returning coolant passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: RAILWAY TECHNICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Noriharu Tamada, Masaru Tomita
  • Publication number: 20140378311
    Abstract: A method of electrically conductively connecting two superconductive cables includes freeing the conductors and screens of surrounding layers at the ends of the two cables. Subsequently, the ends of the two cables (1, 2) are placed next o each other and parallel to one another in such a way that their free ends point, in the same direction, and the ends are rigidly connected to one another in this position. The conductors and their screens are electrically conductively connected to each other through electrical contact elements (8, 9) extending transversely of the axial direction. and the two cable ends treated in this manner are arranged in a housing (10) of a cryostat when building up the transmission length which, during operation of the transmission length, a flowable cooling agent with insulating properties flows through the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Stemmle, Frank Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140378310
    Abstract: Provided are a superconducting rotating machine which improves the cooling efficiency of a rotor by using schemes of passively or actively circulating a coolant and a cooling method thereof. The superconducting rotating machine includes a rotor supported rotatably about a rotation axis and including: at least one superconductive coil; and a central cavity; and a cooling apparatus disposed at an exterior of the rotor and configured to communicate with the cavity, wherein the cooling apparatus includes: a condenser configured to condense a gas coolant supplied through a gas coolant supplying pipe to generate a condensed coolant; a coolant circulating unit configured to supply the condensed coolant into the cavity, configured to recover a vapor coolant evaporated in the cavity into the condenser and configured to circulate the condensed coolant; and a forced circulating unit configured to actively circulate the condensed coolant into the cavity in response to the rotor being tilted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woon Sik Kwon
  • Patent number: 8914085
    Abstract: A superconducting fault current limiter (SCFCL) includes a cryogenic tank defining an interior volume, a superconductor disposed in the interior volume, and a voltage detector configured to detect a voltage drop across the superconductor and provide a voltage signal representative of the voltage drop. This voltage detector enables real time monitoring of a condition of the superconductor during steady state operation of the SCFCL. If the voltage drop exceeds an acceptable voltage drop, corrective action such as maintenance, repair, and/or replacement may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8907594
    Abstract: An ion therapy system comprises a particle accelerator (1) mounted on a rotatable gantry (2). The particle accelerator includes a superconducting coil (17) which rotates about its axis as the particle accelerator rotates about the gantry axis in use to direct an output beam towards a target from different directions. The particle accelerator is rotatable through (180) degrees to move the beam through a corresponding arc. The particle accelerator includes cooling system arranged to cool the coil as the coil rotates. The superconducting coil (17) is mounted in a coil support (25). The coil is surrounded by a cryogen chamber (32) which is located radially outwardly from the coil (17) on the other side of the support (25). The cryogen chamber is in fluid communication with a cryogen recondensing unit (29) whereby vaporized cryogen may flow from the cryogen chamber (32) to the cryogen recondensing unit (29) to be recondensed in use before returning to the cryogen chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Colin Begg, Frederick Thomas Goldie
  • Publication number: 20140357492
    Abstract: A superconducting coil includes: first and second pancake coils that are formed by winding a superconducting wire, are stacked in a thickness direction, and are adjacent to each other; and a cooling substrate that is provided in contact with an end surface of the first pancake coil and is separable into a plurality of cooling plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Masanori DAIBO
  • Publication number: 20140357491
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus includes: a bobbin around which a superconducting coil is wound, the bobbin serving as a protective resistor; a persistent current switch for supplying a persistent current to the superconducting coil; a first closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the persistent current switch connected in series to the coil; and a second closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the bobbin connected in series to the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji NAKAGAWA, Ryuya ANDO, Manabu AOKI
  • Patent number: 8903465
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet assembly includes a bobbin comprising a central bore along a longitudinal direction, and a superconducting coil package wound on the bobbin. The superconducting coil package includes a plurality of superconducting coil layers wound on the bobbin, a plurality of supporting member layers, each of the supporting member layers being between a corresponding two adjacent superconducting coil layers, and a thermal conduction layer between two superconducting coil layers or between a superconducting coil layer and an adjacent supporting member layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xianrui Huang, Yan Zhao, Anbo Wu, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Paul St. Mark Shadforth Thompson
  • Patent number: 8897845
    Abstract: An arrangement for electrically conductively connecting two electrical units by means of a bipolar high voltage direct current transmission, in which between the units are arranged at least two electrical direct current cables constructed as superconductive cables. The superconductive cables are mounted separately from each other in a cryostat (1,2) suitable for conducting a cooling agent which has at least one metal pipe provided with a thermal insulation. The cryostats (1,2) are connected with at least one of their ends to a cooling plant (7) supplying the cooling agent and a pipeline (3) is placed parallel to the two cryostats (1,2). The pipeline (3) is connected at both its ends to the two cryostats (1,2) through valves (15,16,17) which are closed during uninterrupted operation and, in the case of an interruption at one of the superconductive cables, the pipeline (3) serves with the then open valves for conducting the cooling agent intended for the cryostat of the impaired cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Mark Stemmle, Erik Marzahn
  • Publication number: 20140329688
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device is configured to include: a refrigerant circulation flowpath in which a refrigerant (R) circulates; a refrigerator for cooling vapor of the refrigerant (R) in the refrigerant circulation flowpath; a superconducting coil cooled by the circulating refrigerant (R); a protective resistor thermally contacting the superconducting coil and having an internal space (S); a high-boiling-point refrigerant supply section for supplying a high-boiling-point refrigerant having a higher boiling point than the refrigerant (R) and frozen by the refrigerant (R) to the internal space (S) in the protective resistor; and a vacuum insulating container for at least accommodating the refrigerant circulation flowpath, the superconducting coil, and the protective resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Manabu Aoki, Ryuya Ando, Yukihiro Murata, Ryoji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8880134
    Abstract: This invention relates to a superconductor device, comprising: a superconductor; a former which supports the superconductor; and, an intermediate electrical connector attached to the former for coupling the superconductor to a power source, wherein the intermediate electrical connector is connected to the superconductor via a deformable portion in the intermediate electrical connector, wherein the deformable portion allows relative movement between the superconductor and former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Husband, Alexander C. Smith, Nigel Schofield, Andrew Oliver
  • Publication number: 20140309117
    Abstract: A DC superconducting coaxial transmission system provides electrical transmission of 5,000 megawatts of energy while simultaneously delivering liquid hydrogen. The transmission system includes a coaxial transmission segment including an inner superconductor, an outer superconductor disposed in surrounding relation to the inner conductor, and a dielectric insulator disposed between the inner superconductor and the outer superconductor. Liquid hydrogen surrounds the superconductors. Three phase transformers and poly phase rectifier/inverters provide a DC voltage source to the superconductors from the electrical grid. In one embodiment, a switching circuit connected between the voltage source and the superconductor injects a cancellation current component into the direct current flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: William A. Carter, Scott C. Carter, Ilkka T. Pylkkanen
  • Publication number: 20140302994
    Abstract: A cryostat cartridge is disclosed. The cryostat cartridge may include a cryostat having a cryogen inlet, a cryogen outlet, and a superconductor material inside the cryostat configured to be cooled by a cryogen entering the cryostat through the cryogen inlet and exiting the cryostat through the cryogen outlet. The cryogen inlet is configured to be detachable from a cryogen source. The cryostat cartridge may be inserted into an activation module for activating the superconductor material and may also be inserted into a superconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Dean Sarandria, Kuan-Chen Chen, Glenn Knierim
  • Publication number: 20140296075
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cyclotron. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include an upper and lower magnet pole, an upper and lower superconducting coil arranged around each of the magnetic poles, a ring-shaped magnetic return yoke, a beam chamber between the upper and lower magnetic poles having one or more electrodes configured to accelerate ions moving substantially in the median plane, and a cryostat. The ring-shaped magnetic return yoke and the coils may form a cold mass contained within the cryostat. Further, the cryostat may not contain the upper and lower poles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: ION BEAM APPLICATIONS S.A.
    Inventors: Yves JONGEN, Eric FORTON