Abstract: A system for cooling a superconducting rotary machine includes a plurality of sealed siphon tubes disposed in balanced locations around a rotor adjacent to a superconducting coil. Each of the sealed siphon tubes includes a tubular body and a heat transfer medium disposed in the tubular body that undergoes a phase change during operation of the machine to extract heat from the superconducting coil. A siphon heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the siphon tubes for extracting heat from the siphon tubes during operation of the machine.

Abstract: A cold mass for a superconducting magnet system in one example comprises a superconducting magnet, a cryogenic cooling circuit, and a magnet and cooling circuit support. The magnet and cooling circuit support comprises a substantially conductive coupler that serves to couple the superconducting magnet and the cryogenic cooling circuit. The cryogenic cooling circuit comprises an inlet path and a substantially upward outlet path. The inlet path avoids direct conductive thermal engagement with the substantially conductive coupler. The substantially upward outlet path comprises direct conductive thermal engagement with the substantially conductive coupler.

Abstract: A system for generating power comprising, a superconducting generator including, an armature assembly comprising, a body portion, a tooth portion having a front surface and a rear surface, a slot partially defined by the body portion and the tooth portion, an armature bar engaging the slot, and a cooling cavity partially defined by the tooth portion, communicative with the front surface and the rear surface.

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

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

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

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

Abstract: A power generation system including: a generator including a rotor including a superconductive rotor coil coupled to a rotatable shaft; a first prime mover drivingly coupled to the rotatable shaft; and a thermal radiation shield, partially surrounding the rotor coil, including at least a first sheet and a second sheet spaced apart from the first sheet by centripetal force produced by the rotatable shaft. A thermal radiation shield for a generator including a rotor including a super-conductive rotor coil including: a first sheet having at least one surface formed from a low emissivity material; and at least one additional sheet having at least one surface formed from a low emissivity material spaced apart from the first sheet by centripetal force produced by the rotatable shaft, wherein each successive sheet is an incrementally greater circumferential arc length and wherein the centripetal force shapes the sheets into a substantially catenary shape.

Abstract: An electrical motor/generator is provided with at least one of a superconducting rotor, a stator including dovetailed winding dividers, and a stator cooling arrangement with at least one cooling tube per winding slot positioned such that each armature winding is thermally coupled to at least one cooling tube.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system includes a vacuum vessel including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder and a pair of tapered flanges connecting the inner and outer cylinders. The inner cylinder is made of a composite material. The outer cylinder and flanges are composed of several magnetic segments that provide a magnetic flux return path with low eddy currents. The segments are bonded together and electrically insulated from each other. A container, a thermal shield and a superconducting magnet coil assembly are disposed within the vacuum vessel. The superconducting magnet coil assembly includes a non-conductive cylindrical structure and superconducting coils. A thermally conductive cable is wrapped around the cylindrical structure and coils to form a thermally conductive envelope.

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

Abstract: A permanent magnet assembly for an imaging apparatus having a permanent magnet body having a first surface and a stepped second surface which is adapted to face an imaging volume of the imaging apparatus, wherein the stepped second surface contains at least four steps.

Abstract: A generator including: an annular armature connectable to rotate with blades of a wind turbine; an annular stationary field winding assembly coaxial with the armature and separated by a gap from an inside surface of the armature, wherein the field winding include superconducting coils, and support structure connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine.

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

Abstract: The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a vacuum seal assembly for a high power generator stub shaft which includes a seal stator encircling the stub shaft and a plurality of oil seals disposed on an inner diameter of the seal stator and encircling the stub shaft. Adjacent oil seals form a plurality of seal cavities between the stub shaft and the seal stator, and define gaps between each oil seal and the stub shaft for receiving a lubricant film. At least one seal feed conduit extending through the seal stator into the plurality of seal cavities to provide lubricant to the seal assembly.

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

Abstract: A vertically-aligned open MRI magnet system includes first and second (i.e., top and bottom) assemblies each having a longitudinally-extending and vertically-aligned axis, a superconductive main coil, and a vacuum enclosure enclosing the main coil. At least one support beam has a first end attached to the first assembly and has a second end attached to the second assembly. A vibration isolation system supports the magnet system.

Abstract: A method of making a permanent magnet body is provided. The method includes providing a first precursor body comprising a plurality of blocks and magnetizing the first precursor body to form a first permanent magnet body. A recoil magnetization pulse may be applied to the permanent magnet body after the magnetization. The precursor body may be heated during magnetization. A power supply containing a battery may be used to energize a pulsed magnet used to magnetize the precursor body.

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

Abstract: A cold mass for a superconducting magnet system in one example comprises a superconducting magnet, a cryogenic cooling circuit, and a magnet and cooling circuit support. The magnet and cooling circuit support comprises a substantially conductive coupler in a discrete path that serves to couple the superconducting magnet and the cryogenic cooling circuit.