Patents Assigned to Commonwealth Fusion System LLC
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Publication number: 20240088773Abstract: A wind turbine generator includes a stator having a plurality of high-temperature superconducting coils. A current is driven through the high-temperature superconducting coils to produce a magnetic field. A rotor comprising one or more phase coils is physically coupled to a wind turbine. As the wind turbine turns the rotor, current is induced in the one or more phase coils to produce electrical power. The phase coils may include conductive material, superconducting material, and/or high-temperature superconducting material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2022Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Alexey RADOVINSKY, Michael SEGAL
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Publication number: 20240013960Abstract: A magnet system and method of operating may be used in connection with operating a superconducting electromagnet, for example in a tokamak. The magnet system includes a coil having windings retained within a non-insulated structure, so that current can pass both along the windings to generate a magnetic field, and between the windings. The amount of current passing through the coil is trimmed using a bypass circuit, coupled in parallel to the coil terminals. The bypass circuit is controlled on the basis of measurements of the field components to divert current from passing through the field coil. In this way, the magnetic fields of each of multiple field coils can be brought into mutual uniformity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2021Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Alexey RADOVINSKY, Robert MUMGAARD, Theodore GOLFINOPOULOS
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Publication number: 20230361549Abstract: Described are cable joints and related structures and techniques for coupling high temperature superconducting (HTS) cables. A cable joint includes a conductive member having a length which defines the length of the joint and having first and second mounting regions shaped to accept first and second HTS cable with an interface layer comprised of a malleable metal disposed between a surfaces of the first and second mounting regions and surfaces of the first and second HTS cables.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2020Publication date: November 9, 2023Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Zachary HARTWIG, Philip MICHAEL, Brandon N. SORBOM, James IRBY, Rui VIEIRA, William BECK, Erica SALAZAR, Vincent FRY
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Patent number: 11810712Abstract: Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Brian Labombard, Robert S. Granetz, James Irby, Rui Vieira, William Beck, Daniel Brunner, Jeffrey Doody, Martin Greenwald, Zachary Hartwig, Philip Michael, Robert Mumgaard, Alexey Radovinsky, Shunichi Shiraiwa, Brandon N. Sorbom, John Wright, Lihua Zhou
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Publication number: 20230282400Abstract: A method includes inserting a high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable into a groove of a support structure; and flowing a molten metal into the HTS cable while the HTS cable is in the groove. A magnet structure includes a support structure having a groove; and a high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable comprising a metal at least partially filling the HTS cable, the HTS cable being disposed in the groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2021Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Alexey RADOVINSKY, Brian LABOMBARD, Robert MUMGAARD
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Publication number: 20230146164Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are described for designing non-insulated (NI) high temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets that mitigate problems that may arise during quench initiation and propagation. Coupling the HTS material to a co-conductor along its length reduces the effective resistance of the conductive path along the HTS material when it is not superconducting, and that this leads to numerous advantages for quench mitigation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Brian LABOMBARD, Krishna Kiran Kumar UPPALAPATI
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Publication number: 20230097465Abstract: Structures and methods enable emergency or rapid shutdown of an energized no-insulation (NI) superconducting magnet, without damage due to thermal effects of a quench. A resistive bypass wire is coupled between electrical terminals of the magnet coil, and does not pass significant current during normal magnet operation. When rapid shutdown is required, the bypass wire is cooled below its critical temperature, adding a superconducting current path in parallel with the magnet coil. A portion of the coil is then heated above its critical temperature, interrupting current flow through the coil. Hot spots near the coil leads are mitigated through the use of a conductive structure, such as copper cladding, that carries away excess heat due to the quench. This heat may be deposited in a resistive matrix, such as a steel plate, over a duration of seconds and without compromising other magnet design parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Alexey RADOVINSKY, Krishna Kiran Kumar UPPALAPATI
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Publication number: 20230101820Abstract: Described is a cable comprising a plurality of high temperature superconductor (HTS) components, a plurality of electrically conductive segments extending along a length of the cable, each of the plurality of electrically conductive segments comprising one of the plurality of HTS components, and an electrically insulating material arranged between adjacent ones of the plurality of electrically conductive segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Alexey RADOVINSKY, Charlie SANABRIA, Christopher CRAIGHILL, Krishna Kiran Kumar UPPALAPATI, Alexander CREELY, Daniel BRUNNER
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Publication number: 20230073419Abstract: Schemes are described for conductor and coolant placement in stacked-plate superconducting magnets, including arranging coolant channels and conducting channels within the plates on opposing faces. If the two types of channels are aligned with one another across the plate stacks, the plates may be stacked such that the cooling channel in one plate is adjacent to the conducting channel of the neighboring plate. By stacking a number of these plates, therefore, cooling may be supplied to each conducting channel through the cooling channels of each neighboring plate. Moreover, by aligning the two types of channels, the stacks of plates may have improved mechanical strength because mechanical load paths through the entire stack that do not pass through any of the channels may be created. This arrangement of channels may produce a very strong stack of plates that can withstand high Lorentz loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Brian LABOMBARD, Robert MUMGAARD, William BECK, Jeffrey DOODY
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Publication number: 20220375630Abstract: Techniques are described for delivering a metered flow of tritium gas to a fusion power system at a constant (or substantially constant) flow without feedback control being necessary, and while allowing all (or almost all) of the tritium in a reservoir to be delivered to the system. A constant pressure (isobaric) tritium injection system is described comprising a process chamber, at least part of which is flexible, and a regulating chamber arranged adjacent to the process chamber. Tritium in the process chamber may be pushed out of the injection system by managing the pressure of a regulating gas in the regulating chamber. As the pressure of the regulating gas increases, this causes the process chamber to be compressed due to the flexible portion(s) of the process chamber, thereby increasing the pressure of the tritium gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Christopher Chrobak, Kyle Mackenzie Ryan, Walter Shmayda, Heena Mutha
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Publication number: 20220336130Abstract: Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion System LLCInventors: Brian LABOMBARD, Robert S. GRANETZ, James IRBY, Rui VIEIRA, William BECK, Daniel BRUNNER, Jeffrey DOODY, Martin GREENWALD, Zachary HARTWIG, Philip MICHAEL, Robert MUMGAARD, Alexey RADOVINSKY, Syun'ichi SHIRAIWA, Brandon N. SORBOM, John WRIGHT, Lihua ZHOU
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Patent number: 11417464Abstract: Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Brian Labombard, Robert S. Granetz, James Irby, Rui Vieira, William Beck, Daniel Brunner, Jeffrey Doody, Martin Greenwald, Zachary Hartwig, Philip Michael, Robert Mumgaard, Alexey Radovinsky, Syun'ichi Shiraiwa, Brandon N. Sorbom, John Wright, Lihua Zhou
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Publication number: 20210208217Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for quality control of a superconducting tape including (a) at least two rolls contacting the superconducting tape and being suitable for injecting an electric current into the superconducting tape; (b) at least two measuring contacts contacting the superconducting tape and being suitable for measuring an electric voltage along the superconducting tape; and (c) a cooling section suitable for cooling the superconducting tape below its critical temperature, where the at least two rolls and the at least two measuring contacts are located inside the cooling section, and where the cooling section is suitable for keeping the rolls at a first temperature and the measuring contacts at a second temperature, where the first temperature is lower than the second temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2019Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLCInventors: Thomas Braun, Ruslan Karabalaev, Michael Baecker, Roger Woerdenweber