Superconducting Wire, Tape, Cable, Or Fiber, Per Se Patents (Class 505/230)
  • Patent number: 7840244
    Abstract: A superconducting cable enables the cooling of the superconducting conductor with high efficiency and has a sufficient insulating strength. A method of controlling the temperature of the coolants used in the cable is offered. The superconducting cable comprises a heat-insulated pipe that houses a cable core provided with a superconducting conductor made of a superconducting material. The cable core is also provided with a poorly heat-conductive pipe placed at the outer side of the outer circumference of the superconducting conductor. The inside and outside of the poorly heat-conductive pipe are separately filled with different types of coolants having different purposes. The poorly heat-conductive pipe is filled with a conductor-use coolant for cooling the superconducting conductor so as to maintain it at the superconducting state. The heat-insulated pipe is filled with an insulation-use coolant for performing electric insulation of the superconducting conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirose, Ryosuke Hata
  • Publication number: 20100273657
    Abstract: A superconducting article and method of fabrication are provided. The superconducting article includes a superconducting structure, which includes a superconducting conductor and multiple discrete overlay regions of higher heat capacity than the superconducting conductor. The multiple discrete overlay regions are disposed along a length of the superconducting conductor, in thermal contact with the superconducting conductor, and positioned to define a heat modulation pattern along the length of the superconducting structure. The multiple discrete overlay regions create a temperature distribution favorable to transition of the superconducting structure under load from a normal resistive state to a superconductive state by facilitating formation of a continuous superconducting path along the length of the superconducting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: SUPERPOWER, INC.
    Inventor: Maxim MARTCHEVSKII
  • Patent number: 7820596
    Abstract: A thick film superconductor includes a substrate and a superconducting thick film formed on the substrate. The thick film is 1-20 microns thick with an average twin spacing to film thickness ratio of about 0.016, and is formed from an aqueous solution of YBC ions doped with a particulate rare earth oxide having a diameter of about 50-500 nm. The coated substrate is heat treated, preferably above 650 degrees C. and cooled at a rate less than 15 degrees C. per hour, resulting in a substantially fully oxygenated YBCO layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventor: Siu-Wai Chan
  • Patent number: 7811972
    Abstract: A target surface of a tape-shaped substrate of an oxide superconductor with an intermediate layer formed on this target surface and an oxide superconductor thin film is polished by causing the tape-shaped substrate to continuously run. The polishing step includes an initial polishing process for carrying out random polishing of the target surface and a finishing process that is carried out after the initial polishing process for forming grooves on the target surface along the running direction of the substrate. The intermediate layer has an in-plane directionality of 7° or less. The tape-shaped substrate is fabricated by rolling nickel, a nickel alloys or stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: NIHON Micro Coating Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Horie, Noriyuki Kumasaka, Sanaki Horimoto
  • Patent number: 7805173
    Abstract: A tape manufacturing system and a tape-surface-inspection unit are disclosed. The tape-surface-inspection unit is capable of continuously characterizing the surface of a non-transparent tape that is usable with or without a tape manufacturing system. The tape-surface-inspection unit includes a surface illuminator, an imager, an image processor, a tape guide, and, optionally, an indexer. The surface illuminator provides a tape surface located by the tape guide in a manner that allows the imager to capture images for characterization by the image processor. The indexer facilitates a correlation of locations along the tape and a characterization of the locations on the tape. The tape manufacturing system, in addition to at least one tape-surface-inspection unit, includes a tape-processing unit, a tape handler, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Jodi L. Reeves, Yunfei Qiao
  • Patent number: 7792560
    Abstract: Disclosed is a three layer process for making contact points to a high transition temperature superconductor (HTSC), particularly to (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O19+x with and without silver in the superconductor. The contact structure is a three layer configuration with a perforated silver foil (3) sandwiched between two metal spray gun deposited silver layers (2,5) and subsequent heat treatment in air. The contact has been made on tubes and rods (1). The silver contacts are capable of carrying a continuous current of 200 Amps without adding any substantial heat load to the cryogen used to cool the HTSC. The contact resistance at 4.2 K is in the range of 1.5×10 (hoch?8) to 8.5? 10 (hoch?8)OHM in zero applied filed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Shrikant Ekbote, Gursharan Kaur Padam, Narendra Kumar Arora, Mukul Sharma, Ramesh Sethi, Mrinal Kanti Banerjee
  • Patent number: 7786385
    Abstract: A superconducting cable line includes a heat insulation pipe for a fluid for transporting a fluid having a temperature lower than an ordinary temperature and a superconducting cable housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid. The superconducting cable including a cable core in a heat insulation pipe for a cable is housed in the heat insulation pipe for a fluid to make a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the heat insulation pipe smaller than that in a situation of laying in an atmosphere. In addition, the superconducting cable has a double heat insulation structure formed with the heat insulation pipe for a cable and the heat insulation pipe for a fluid. Therefore, the superconducting cable line can effectively reduce heat intrusion from the outside into the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirose, Yuichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100216645
    Abstract: A method for connecting two or more superconducting wires (1, 2), each comprising at least one filament (3a-3b) that contains MgB2, wherein the superconducting connection is realized through exposed end regions (13) of the filaments (3a-3d) via a superconducting matrix, is characterized in that a bulk powder (4) of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) powder with a transition temperature of Tc>40K is provided, into which the exposed end regions (13) of the filaments (3a-3d) project, wherein the Boron of the Boron powder of the bulk powder (4) is in amorphous modification, and the bulk powder (4) is compacted together with the projecting exposed end regions (13) of the filaments (3a-3d) to form a compressed element (8). The method improves the quality, in particular, the current carrying capacity and the critical magnetic field strength of a superconducting connection of two MgB2 wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Bruker HTS GmbH
    Inventors: Felicitas Tenbrink, André Aubele, Volker Gluecklich, Bernd Sailer, Klaus Schlenga
  • Patent number: 7781376
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Kodenkandath, Wei Zhang, Yibing Huang, Xiaoping Li, Edward J. Siegal, Martin W. Rupich
  • Patent number: 7777602
    Abstract: Tape-shaped superconducting wires, and a superconducting coil formed from said wires, wherein a plurality of electrically separated superconducting film parts, each having a rectangular cross section and arranged in parallel, form parallel conductors, providing superconducting wires capable of containing losses incurred in the presence of alternating current (A/C). A superconducting coil is made by winding the superconducting wires, wherein the coil structure contains at least a part wherein perpendicular interlinkage magnetic fluxes acting among conductor elements of the parallel conductors by the distribution of magnetic fields generated by the superconducting coils cancel mutually in order to contain circulating current within the wires and to make shunt current uniform, thereby providing a low-loss A/C superconducting coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: International Superconductivity Technology Center, Juridical Foundation, Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd., Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Funaki, Masataka Iwakuma, Takanobu Kisu, Akira Tomioka, Toshio Uede, Hiroshi Fuji, Teruo Izumi, Yuh Shiohara
  • Patent number: 7774035
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes a substrate; first and second buffer layers overlying the substrate, such that the substrate is positioned so as to be interposed between the first and second buffer layers, first and second superconductor layers overlying the first and second buffer layers. Further, the first and second stabilizer layers respectively overlying the first and second superconductor layers, the first and second stabilizer layers adapted to conduct current and prevent burnout of the first and second superconductor layers when the first and second superconductor layers are in a non-superconductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Gyoun Lee, Yi-Yuan Xie
  • Publication number: 20100197506
    Abstract: This invention provides a tape-shaped oxide superconductor which can prevent the diffusion of elements constituting a metallic substrate into a superconducting layer and cracking of an intermediate layer and improve the orientation of the superconducting layer. A 15 to 100 nm-thick Ce—Gd—O-based oxide layer (2) (Ce:Gd=40:60 to 70:30 molar ratio) as a first intermediate layer and a 100 nm-thick Ce—Zr—O-based oxide layer (3) (Ce:Zr=50:50 molar ratio) as a second intermediate layer are formed by an MOD method on an Ni-base alloy substrate (1) having a half value width (FMHW: ??) of 6.5 degrees. A 150 nm-thick CeO2 oxide layer (4) as a third intermediate layer is further formed on the second intermediate layer by an RF sputtering method. A 1 ?m-thick YBCO superconducting layer (5) is formed by a TFA-MOD method on the intermediate layer having a three-layer structure. In the tape-shaped oxide superconductor, the ?? values of the first to third intermediate layers are (6.0 to 6.5) degrees, (6.0 to 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicants: SWCC SHOWA CABLE SYSTEMS CO., LTD, INTERNATIONAL SUPERCONDUCTIVITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER, THE JURIDICAL FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Takahashi, Tsutomu Koizumi, Yuji Aoki, Atsushi Kaneko, Takayo Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20100197505
    Abstract: A multilayer superconducting wire 7 with essentially round cross sectional area where the outer surface of the round wire is provided with a high temperature superconductor layer 3 and where at least the high temperature superconductor layer 3 is fabricated as a spiral running along the length of the superconductor wire 7 in parallel lanes 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Florian Steinmeyer, Mark Rikel, Jürgen Ehrenberg, Steffen Elschner
  • Patent number: 7763806
    Abstract: There is provided a superconducting cable allowing a simple configuration to absorb an amount of contraction of normal conducting wire caused as it is cooled. The present superconducting cable has a superconducting layer (a superconducting conductor layer, a superconducting shield layer) and a normal conducting layer (a normal conducting conductor layer, a normal conducting shield layer) disposed at at least one of inner and outer sides of the superconducting layer. The superconducting cable has a stress relaxation layer at an inner side of the normal conducting layer, and the superconducting cable has the stress relaxation layer absorb an amount of radial contraction of the normal conducting layer caused as it is cooled by a coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirose
  • Patent number: 7761125
    Abstract: Intermodulation distortion (IMD) is known to be an impediment to progress in superconductor-based filter technology. The present invention's methodology for reducing IMD can open doors to heretofore unseen practical applications involving high temperature superconductor (HTS) filters. Typical inventive practice includes (a) increasing the thickness d, and/or (b) changing the operation temperature T, of the filter's HTS film. The film's thickness d is increased in such a way as to decrease the IMD power PIMD in accordance with the material-independent proportionate relationship PIMD?1/d1.5-6. The film's operation temperature T is bettered or optimized in accordance with the material-independent proportionate relationship PIMD?(?O(T))10(K(2)(T))2/(?O(T))6, and further in accordance with three individual material-dependent relationships, namely, between operation temperature T and each of linear penetration depth ?O, gap maximum ?O, and kernel K(2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Yehoshua Dan Agassi, Daniel E. Oates
  • Publication number: 20100179064
    Abstract: The invention relates to power cable comprising, at least one HTS-tape and a cooling system comprising a fluid cooling medium for cooling the at least one HTS-tape. The at least one HTS-tape being at least partly surrounded by a cooling layer comprising said fluid cooling medium and an electrical insulation at least partly impregnated with said fluid medium. The power cable of the invention has shown to reduce the risk of fault current and electrically breakdown. When extra cooling is needed for stable operation the cooling medium may evaporate in the cooling layer for providing the cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: NKT CABLES ULTERA A/S
    Inventors: Dag Willen, Chresten Traeholt, Carsten Thidemann Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20100179063
    Abstract: A superconducting article is provided which includes a superconducting tape assembly. The superconducting tape assembly includes a superconducting tape layer, having one or more superconducting tapes, and a high-permeability magnetic material layer coupled to the superconducting tape layer. The high-permeability magnetic material layer includes a high-permeability magnetic material which remains magnetically soft at a critical temperature Tc of the superconducting tape, and with presence of an ac magnetic field acting on the superconducting tape assembly, re-magnetizes to divert at least a portion of a normal component of the ac magnetic field therethrough, which reduces ac loss in the superconducting tape layer by modifying the ac magnetic field distribution within the superconducting tape of the superconducting tape layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: SuperPower. Inc.
    Inventor: Maxim MARTCHEVSKII
  • Patent number: 7756557
    Abstract: An AC-tolerant high temperature superconductor tape with transposed filaments having two layers of high temperature superconducting material with striations and corresponding filaments and an insulating layer positioned therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Paul N. Barnes, Milan Polak, Chakrapani Varanasi
  • Patent number: 7749939
    Abstract: By adding an aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene to the powder mixture of magnesium (Mg) or magnesium hydride (MgH2) and boron (B) as raw materials of a superconductor MgB2, high superconducting critical current density (Jc) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignees: National Institute for Materials Science, Central Japan Railway Company
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kumakura, Hitoshi Kitaguchi, Masazumi Hirakawa, Hideyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100160170
    Abstract: A surface polishing method for enhancing crystal orientation on the surface of a tapelike metal substrate in order to enhance the critical current of a superconducting thin film. In an oxide superconductor comprising a tapelike substrate, an intermediate layer formed on the tapelike substrate, and an oxide superconducting thin film layer formed on the intermediate layer, the method for polishing a surface to be polished of the tapelike substrate comprises a step for polishing the surface to be polished while traveling the tapelike substrate continuously, wherein an initial polishing step and a finish polishing step are included. Ultimately, the average surface roughness Ra of the polished surface is 2 nanometer or less and the in-plane orientation ?? is 5° or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: NIHON MICRO COATING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sanaki Horimoto, Takuya Nagamine, Takehiro Watanabe, Fumi Murokawa, Yuji Horie, Noriyuki Kumasaka, Masahiro Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20100160169
    Abstract: A superconducting thin film material is provided, including a first superconducting thin film having a surface subjected to smoothing and a second superconducting thin film formed on the surface of the first superconducting thin film subjected to the smoothing. Further, a superconducting wire is provided, including a substrate, an intermediate layer formed on the substrate, and a superconducting layer formed on the intermediate layer, wherein the superconducting layer is made of the superconducting thin film material described above. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing the superconducting thin film material and a method of manufacturing the superconducting wire are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Shuji Hahakura, Kazuya Ohmatsu
  • Patent number: 7737086
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a superconductive electrical conductor (7) in which a layer of an yttrium-barium-copper oxide (YBCO) is applied as a superconductive material onto a textured metal base directly or after prior application of a buffer layer, and is subjected to a heat treatment. To this end an interlayer of a metallic material which is compatible with the crystal structure of YBCO, or with the structure of a buffer layer suitable for the application of YBCO, is initially applied all around onto an elongate metal support (1). The support (1) provided with the interlayer is subsequently processed so that predetermined texturing is imparted to the interlayer as a metal base for the layer of YBCO material or for the buffer layer. The layer of superconductive YBCO material is then applied all around, directly onto the textured interlayer or onto the buffer layer previously applied thereon, and the heat treatment is finally carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Arnaud Allais, Nat Dirk Isfort
  • Publication number: 20100137142
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing round wire using superconducting tape, including the steps of: slitting superconducting tape into superconducting tape strips; silver-coating the slit superconducting tape strips; laminating the silver-coated superconducting tape strips to form a superconducting tape laminate having a square cross-section; holding the superconducting tape laminate; heat-treating the fixed superconducting tape laminate to cause diffusion junction between silver; and copper-plating the heat-treated superconducting tape laminate to have a circular section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Korea Electrtechnology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hong Soo Ha, Sang Soo Oh, Dong Woo Ha, Rock Kil Ko, Ho Sup Kim
  • Patent number: 7727934
    Abstract: Articles are provided including a base substrate having a layer of an oriented cubic oxide material with a rock-salt-like structure layer thereon, and, a layer of epitaxial titanium nitride upon the layer of an oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure. Such articles can further include thin films of high temperature superconductive oxides such as YBCO upon the layer of epitaxial titanium nitride or upon a intermediate buffer layer upon the layer of epitaxial titanium nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Foltyn, Paul N. Arendt, Haiyan Wang, Liliana Stan
  • Patent number: 7723616
    Abstract: The invention offers a superconducting cable easy to form a twisted structure even when a plurality of cable cores are used and a DC transmission system incorporating the superconducting cable. A superconducting cable 1 has a structure formed by twisting together two types of cable cores (two first cores 2 and one second core 3) having different structures and then housing them in a heat-insulated pipe 7. The first cores 2 each have a first superconducting layer 2a, to be used either as an outward line or for the transmission for a pole in DC transmission, and have no superconducting layer other than the first superconducting layer 2a. The second core 3 has a second superconducting layer 3a, to be used as a return line or neutral line in DC transmission, and has no superconducting layer other than the second superconducting layer 3a. The second superconducting layer 3a has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first superconducting layer 2a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirose
  • Patent number: 7718897
    Abstract: A low AC loss electrical conductor includes an electrically conductive core surrounded by a first layer of superconductor filaments. A resistive shell surrounds the first layer and an insulation coating radially encloses the resistive shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xianrui Huang, Minfeng Xu
  • Patent number: 7719130
    Abstract: In a DC power transmission and distribution line, a power cable line for making it possible to easily supply power to various electric power machines used for operation of the line is provided. A power cable line includes a power cable (1g, 1r, 1p, 1m, 1n) for executing DC transmission and distribution, an AC superposing section 2 for superposing an AC component on the power cable, and a branch power supply section 3 for taking out power induced by the superposed AC component from the cable. The AC component is superposed on the power cable by the AC superposing section 2 and AC power together with DC power is transmitted to the power cable. The superposed AC component is taken out by the branch power supply section 3 provided in a midway point of the cable and is supplied to various electric power machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirose, Ryosuke Hata
  • Publication number: 20100099571
    Abstract: A superconducting cable (1; 10; 30) has a channel (4, 38) for a cooling liquid, a tubular support structure (5, 37), at least two layers (2, 3; 11-15; 31, 32, 35, 36) comprising high Tc conductors (2a, 3a) which comprise a high Tc material, and an insulation (7, 17), in particular a tubular insulation (7). The conductors (3a) of the outer layer (3; 13-15; 33, 36) comprise a first high Tc material that is different from a second high Tc material of the conductors (2a) of the inner layer (2; 11-12; 32, 35), wherein the first high Tc material exhibits lower AC losses as compared the second high Tc material, and that the high Tc conductors (3a) of the outer layer (3; 13-15; 33, 36) comprise normal-conducting interruptions (41, 42, 43). The superconducting cable exhibits reduced AC losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Bruker HTS GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Usoskin
  • Publication number: 20100099570
    Abstract: Superconductor cable having a plurality of flat, tape-shaped ribbon superconductor wires assembled to form a stack having a rectangular cross section, the stack having a twist about a longitudinal axis of the stack. Multiple superconductor cables including twisted stacked-cables of the flat-tape-shaped superconductor wires, and power cable comprising the twisted flat-tape stacked cables are disclosed. Superconducting power cable disposed within and separated from an electrical insulator with a space passing cryo-coolant between the superconducting cable and insulator is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Makoto Takayasu, Joseph V. Minervini, Leslie Bromberg
  • Publication number: 20100099573
    Abstract: This invention provides a rare earth-type tape-shaped oxide superconductor having excellent mechanical strength and superconducting properties and a composite substrate using for the same. Non-oriented and non-magnetic Ni-9 at % W alloy tapes (11, 21) were bonded onto both sides of a non-oriented and non-magnetic hastelloy tape (100) by a normal temperature bonding process, and an Ni-3 at % W alloy tape (12) having a cubic texture was bonded onto the surface of the tape (11) by a normal temperature bonding process. Thereafter, the heat-treatment was given in a reducing atmosphere and a bonding layer (50a) etc. was formed on the adhesive interface of each layer. Next, a (Ce, Gd) O2 intermediate layer (13) and a Ce2Zr2O7 intermediate layer (14) by an MOD process, a CeO2 intermediate layer (15), a YBCO superconducting film (16) by a TFA-MOD method, and a silver stabilization layer (17) were stacked sequentially on the surface of the tape (12). A critical current value (Ic) of this superconductor showed 150 A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Tsutomu Koizumi, Yasuo Takahashi, Atsushi Kaneko, Takayo Hasegawa, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100099572
    Abstract: Disclosed is a superconducting power cable capable of quench detection, and a quench detection system using the superconducting power cable. The superconducting power cable capable of quench detection includes a former; a superconducting conductor layer composed of a superconducting wire and surrounding the former; a conductor layer quench detection coil interposed between the former and the superconducting conductor layer and surrounding the former; an insulating layer surrounding the superconducting conductor layer; and a shielding layer surrounding the insulating layer. This superconducting power cable may detect quench generated during its operation in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: LS Cable Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Man Jang, Do-Woon Kim, Ji-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7702373
    Abstract: A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the substrate including a plurality of indicia provided on the first surface spaced apart along a length of the substrate; and a superconductor layer overlying the second surface. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Robert Knoll, Kenneth Patrick Lenseth
  • Publication number: 20100093546
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are superconducting composites, and preliminary products therefor, having a core comprising a superconducting phase, a first casing surrounding the core, and having an inner area abutting the core and having a first magnesium concentration and an outer area having a second magnesium concentration greater than the first magnesium concentration, wherein the second magnesium concentration is, on average, between 5 and 40 atomic percent. Desirably, the superconducting phase comprises a MgB2 phase. This arrangement allows for methods for producing the composites that reduce or eliminate subjecting the superconducting phase to mechanical stresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Bruker EAS GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schlenga, Andreas Szulczyk
  • Publication number: 20100081572
    Abstract: A superconducting transmission line includes a superconducting article including at least one HTS wire, a cooling system including at least in part one or more thermoelectric or thermionic coolers thermally coupled to the HTS wire. The thermoelectric coolers are powered by electricity flowing along the HTS wire. A system for generating and transporting nuclear power includes a nuclear power plant including a turbine for generating electricity, and a superconducting transmission line according to an embodiment of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: NEIL R. JETTER
  • Publication number: 20100075857
    Abstract: The invention offers a superconducting tape that maintains both high allowable tension and low splice resistance and a method of producing the superconducting tape. The superconducting tape is provided with a main-body portion and a reinforcement portion. The main-body portion has the shape of a tape and has a superconductor. The reinforcement portion is composed of precipitation-hardened-type copper alloy or alloy of tin and copper and is formed on at least one surface side of the main-body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Ayai
  • Patent number: 7683009
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Bi2223 based thick film that does not peel off when a thermal or a mechanical shock is applied to a base or an oxide superconductor thick film or the like in the middle of a manufacturing process and a method of manufacturing the same. An oxide superconductor paste 1 having a mixing ratio of Bi2212 composition is applied to a base 3, dried, burned, and thereafter burned at a temperature approximate to its melting point to obtain a partially molten layer 4. Next, an oxide superconductor paste 2 having a mixing ratio of Bi2223 composition is applied to the partially molten layer 4, dried, burned, compressed by a CIP, and thereafter repeatedly burned and compressed for a predetermined number of times to obtain the base 3 having a desired superconductor thick film 5 formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, DOWA Electronics Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kojima, Masakazu Kawahara, Michiharu Ichikawa, Hiroyuki Kado, Masatoyo Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20100062945
    Abstract: An Nb3Sn wire rod having a high Jc value is manufactured using an Ag—Sn alloy. A composite rod including a plurality of Nb core materials incorporated in an Ag—Sn alloy matrix material having an Sn concentration of 9.35 to 22.85 at % is prepared. Next, the composite rod is extruded and/or wire drawn while carrying out process annealing of 350 to 490° C., followed by heat treatment at 500 to 900° C. to produce an Nb3Sn filament. Thus, an Nb3Sn extrafine multi-core superconducting wire is manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: The University of Tokushima
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7674751
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Alexis P. Malozemoff, Martin W. Rupich, Douglas C. Folts
  • Publication number: 20100019776
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing a superconducting wire. A method in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein may include performing a voltage/current (VI) test for each of a plurality of portions of superconducting wire. The VI test may include determining a plurality of VI data points for each of the plurality of portions of superconducting wire at a first VI datapoint of about (Ic (critical current), Ec (critical electric field)) and at a second VI datapoint of about (Ix, Ex). Ex may be at least 10 times Ec and Ix may be approximately equal to the current resulting at that voltage drop. The method may further include analyzing the plurality of VI data points for each portion of superconducting wire to determine if one or more of the portions of superconducting wire are defective. Of course, numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas C. Folts, Eric R. Podtburg, Robert C. Diehl
  • Publication number: 20100016169
    Abstract: An oxide superconductor member is composed of a tape-shaped substrate, an intermediate layer formed on this substrate and an oxide superconductor thin film layer formed on this intermediate layer. A surface of the tape-shaped substrate is polished by continuously running the tape-shaped substrate. The polishing step includes initial polishing process and finishing process which are carried out such that the average surface roughness Ra of the substrate becomes 2 nanometers or less and the in-plane directionality of the intermediate layer becomes 5° or less after the polishing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NIHON MICRO COATING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sanaki Horimoto, Takuya Nagamine, Takehiro Watanabe, Fumi Murokawa, Yuji Horie, Noriyuki Kumasaka, Masahiro Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7632784
    Abstract: A sintered high temperature superconducting (HTS) ceramic electric lead formed as three-dimensional (3D) HTS macro-ceramic solid product with honeycomb-like superconductive nano-architecture comprises substantially uniformly aligned nano-size HTS ceramic crystal grains, silicate glass nano-thick films, and nano-size silver and/or inorganic dots that locate in nano-thick boundary areas of the superconductor ceramic crystal grains, and the nano-size films or dots provide honeycomb-like 3D nano-size network within the 3D HTS macro-ceramic solid product or HTS ceramic lead, and the electric lead is superconducting at liquid nitrogen cooling temperature. The superconductive nano-architecture facilitates or controls substantially higher electro-magnetic and consumable mechanical properties, reliability and durability of the HTS ceramic electric leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventors: Anatoly E. Rokhvarger, Lubov A. Chigirinsky
  • Publication number: 20090298696
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a laminated, spliced superconductor wire includes a superconductor joint, which includes (i) first and second superconductor wires, each wire including a substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the substrate, and a cap layer overlying the superconductor layer; and (ii) a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge including a substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the substrate, and a cap layer overlying the superconductor layer, wherein the cap layer of the conductive bridge is in electrically conductive contact with a portion of the cap layer of each of the first and second superconductor wires through an electrically conductive bonding material. The spliced wire also includes (b) a stabilizer structure surrounding at least a portion of the superconductor joint, wherein the superconductor joint is in electrical contact with the stabilizer structure; and (c) a substantially nonporous electrically conductive filler, wherein the filler substantially surrounds the superconductor joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Otto, Eric R. Podtburg
  • Patent number: 7625843
    Abstract: There is provided a method of fabricating a precursor solution for a metal organic deposition method using a superconducting oxide as a starting material, wherein the method includes dispersing a superconducting material powder in a TFA acid aqueous solution, heating to dissolve the powder in the TFA solution, increasing a temperature of a hot substrate if the powder is completely dissolved and the solution is clear, continuously heating until the solution is vaporized and is in a viscous jelly state, stopping heating if the solution loses its flowing property completely, cooling the solution, and dissolving the compound in the jelly state, hardened at a room temperature, into an organic solvent to provide a metal organic deposition solution for coating. There is also provided a method of fabricating a thin film-type superconductor using a metal organic deposition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Gye-Won Hong, Hee-Gyon Lee, Sang-Im Yoo, Jai-Moo Yoo
  • Patent number: 7622425
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a superconductive electrical conductor, in which a layer of an yttrium-barium-copper oxide (YBCO) is applied as a superconductive material onto a textured metal substrate, and is subjected to a heat treatment. In order to produce a wire-shaped conductor, a textured metal substrate, provided as a strip (2), is initially shaped in its longitudinal direction around an elongate metal support (1) with a circular cross section to form a slotted tube (3) having edges extending in the longitudinal direction and adjoining one another at a slot (4). The slotted tube (3) is next closed by welding the slot (4) shut, and the closed tube (9) is then contracted by pulling until it bears on the support (1). The layer (12) of superconductive YBCO material is thereupon applied all around, and the heat treatment is finally carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Arnaud Allais, Dirk Isfort, Claus-Friedrich Theune, Klaus Porcher
  • Publication number: 20090275479
    Abstract: The invention offers a method of producing a (Bi, Pb)-2223-based oxide superconducting material. The method is for producing a (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3OZ-based oxide superconducting material. The method includes a material-mixing step for forming a mixed material and at least two heat treatment steps for heat-treating the mixed material. The at least two heat treatment steps has a first heat treatment step for forming (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals and a second heat treatment step for increasing the Sr content of the (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals after the (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals are formed. The second heat treatment step is performed at a temperature lower than that employed in the first heat treatment step, so that the (Bi, Pb)-2223-based oxide superconducting material has a high critical temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-ichi Shimoyama, Takeshi Kato, Koubei Yamazaki, Shin-ichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7608785
    Abstract: A system for transmitting current is described. The system includes at least one generator, at least one cryostat, and at least one load. The system may further include one of terminations, a refrigeration system, and terminations and a refrigeration system. The cryostat has at least one electrical phase including at least one mandrel and magnetically decoupled superconducting conductors that may accomplished by, for example, braiding the superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Reis
  • Publication number: 20090264297
    Abstract: A superconducting joint that structurally binds a first superconducting segment to a second superconducting segment. The first and second superconducting segment each include corresponding areas containing a granular superconducting substance formed by a first element and a second element. The superconducting joint includes a solid non-superconducting binding formed from a source of the first element and a source of the second element combined to produce the granular superconducting substance around the solid non-superconducting binding to permit for the flow of superconducting current through the first superconducting segment and the second superconducting segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ASG Superconductors, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Davide NARDELLI
  • Patent number: 7605329
    Abstract: A terminal structure (2) for a superconducting cable (1) is described. It consists of a conductor (2a) and an insulator (2b) that surrounds the conductor (2a), wherein the superconducting cable (1) has a core with a superconducting conductor (5) and a layer of insulation that surrounds the conductor (5), and wherein the core is arranged in such a way that it can move longitudinally in a cryostat. The conductor (2a) of the terminal structure (2) is electrically connected with the superconducting conductor (5) or with a normal conductor (6) that is connected with the superconducting conductor (5) by means of a tubular part (7) made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the superconducting conductor (5) or the normal conductor (6) can slide in the part (7) in the direction of the superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Frank Schmidt, Arnaud Allais, Pierre Mirebeau, Francois Ganhungu, Nicolas Lallouet
  • Patent number: 7598458
    Abstract: A superconducting cable according to the present invention includes a former, a superconducting conductor layer formed around the outer circumference of the former, an electric insulating layer formed around the outer circumference of the conductor layer, a shield layer formed around the outer circumferential of the insulating layer, and a normal-conducting metal layer formed between the insulating layer and the shield layer. The normal-conducting metal layer existing inside shield layer has an inductance greater than that of the shield layer, which can suppress a rise in temperature in the event of accidents such as short-circuits, and also can reduce AC losses since currents flow through shield layer during the passage of normal currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Yumura, Masanobu Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20090247412
    Abstract: An HTS cable assembly is provided which includes a cryostat or housing, an HTS wire bundle disposed longitudinally within the cryostat, and plural support members disposed between the HTS wire bundle and the cryostat. The support members are elongate, tubular members having resiliency in both the axial and radial directions. The support members are disposed between the HTS wire bundle and the inner surface of the cryostat in an arrangement that maintains and supports the HTS wire bundle in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the inner surface of the cryostat. In addition, the plural support members are configured to substantially prevent relative movement between the HTS wire bundle and the cryostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Maguire, Jie Yuan, Christopher G. King