Abstract: A sintering apparatus comprising a container for holding small particles that contact one another, an electric current generator generating an alternating electric current and a flux concentrator having a collector positioned to be exposed to an alternating magnetic field generated by the alternating electric current and a tip that focuses the alternating magnetic field so that the particles are exposed to the alternating magnetic field, the alternating magnetic field heating surfaces of the particles so that they join and are fused together.

Abstract: A heating method is described. A plurality of flux concentrators and at least one part may be held in proximity to one another. One or more alternating electric current may be generated to generate a plurality of alternating magnetic fields by the respective flux concentrators.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a generator having a rotor with a rotor structure, a set of flux pumps secured to the rotor structure and a cooling system secured to the rotor structure for cooling each one of the flux pumps. The flux pump includes separate superconducting loops in separate layers with each superconducting loop including a plurality of sections in revolutions in its respective layer. Each cooling system includes a compressor, heat exchanger, expansion valve, and cryocooler inline with one another. The rotor is rotatably mounted to a stator component through a bearing. A power supply circuit includes components integrated within the rotor for providing power to the flux pump and the compressor.

Abstract: The invention also provides a heating apparatus including a holder capable of holding at least one part, an electric current generator and a flux concentrator electrically connected to the electric current generator, the flux concentrator being made of a non-magneto-dielectric material and having a coil with at least one turn forming an inductor to generate an alternating magnetic field that is driven by the alternating electric field, the alternating magnetic field resonating at a frequency of at least 1 MHz in response to the alternating electric current.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a generator having a rotor with a rotor structure, a set of flux pumps secured to the rotor structure and a cooling system secured to the rotor structure for cooling each one of the flux pumps. The flux pump includes separate superconducting loops in separate layers with each superconducting loop including a plurality of sections in revolutions in its respective layer. Each cooling system includes a compressor, heat exchanger, expansion valve, and cryocooler inline with one another. The rotor is rotatably mounted to a stator component through a bearing. A power supply circuit includes components integrated within the rotor for providing power to the flux pump and the compressor.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable impedance device including a first bus bar refrigeration system, a first bus bar thermally connected to the first bus bar refrigeration system to be maintained at a target bus bar temperature by the first bus bar refrigeration system, a variable impedance component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component electrically connected to the first bus bar and thermally connected to the component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component may be at least partially made of a material that is superconducting below a critical temperature and may be maintained at a target component temperature, wherein the target bus bar temperature may be between the 300K and critical temperature and the target component temperature may be below the critical temperature and a second bus bar connected to the variable impedance component so that current flows between the first and second leads through the variable impedance component.

Abstract: A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. A change in power transferred to the powder during a phase change in the powder is calculated to determine the quality of component formation.

Abstract: A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. The liquid portion couples to at least some of the second powder and subsequently solidifies to provide a composite component.

Abstract: A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. The liquid portion couples to at least some of the second powder and subsequently solidifies to provide a composite component.

Abstract: A sintering apparatus comprising a container for holding small particles that contact one another, an electric current generator generating an alternating electric current and a flux concentrator having a collector positioned to be exposed to an alternating magnetic field generated by the alternating electric current and a tip that focuses the alternating magnetic field so that the particles are exposed to the alternating magnetic field, the alternating magnetic field heating surfaces of the particles so that they join and are fused together.

Abstract: The invention provides a flux pump that includes a plurality of superconducting materials arranged to form at least one superconducting loop, at least one of the components being made of a superconductor that includes particles made of a superconductive material and a conductive material selected to be driven to a superconductive state when in proximity to the superconductive material, an unbroken section of the conductive material being located sufficiently close to a plurality of the particles to be driven to a superconductive state by the superconductive material.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable impedance device including a first bus bar refrigeration system, a first bus bar thermally connected to the first bus bar refrigeration system to be maintained at a target bus bar temperature by the first bus bar refrigeration system, a variable impedance component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component electrically connected to the first bus bar and thermally connected to the component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component may be at least partially made of a material that is superconducting below a critical temperature and may be maintained at a target component temperature, wherein the target bus bar temperature may be between the 300K and critical temperature and the target component temperature may be below the critical temperature and a second bus bar connected to the variable impedance component so that current flows between the first and second leads through the variable impedance component.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric grid stabilization metadevice including a plurality of interactive grid devices each forming part of a respective electrical path of an electric grid and each including, a variable impedance device that inserts a current limiting impedance in the respective path when a fault occurs, a state detection transducer connected to the variable impedance device to change a detection state when the fault occurs and an integral communications system having transmission and reception capabilities and being connected to the state detection transducer and variable impedance device, wherein a fault detected by each of the interactive grid devices automatically causes transmission of a signal to another integrated grid device, reception of the signal by the other integrated grid device and an insertion of a current limiting impedance by the other integrated grid device.

Abstract: The invention provides a superconductor comprising particles made of a superconductive material, and a conductive material. The conductive material is selected to be driven to a superconductive state when in proximity to the superconductive material, and preferably at least includes bismuth. An unbroken length of the conductive material is located sufficiently close to a plurality of the particles to be driven to a superconductive state by the superconductive material.

Abstract: The invention provides a superconductor comprising particles made of a superconductive material, and a conductive material. The conductive material is selected to be driven to a superconductive state when in proximity to the superconductive material, and preferably at least includes gallium. An unbroken length of the conductive material is located sufficiently close to a plurality of the particles to be driven to a superconductive state by the superconductive material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator system for a power modifier of the kind having a power modifier body that is secured to a wall, first and second terminals over which a voltage is applied, a power-modifying portion that modifies electric power from the first terminal to the second terminal, and a power modifier member, movably secured to the power modifier body and connected to the power-modifying portion so that the power-modifying portion modifies the electric power upon movement of the power modifier member relative to the power modifier body and the wall.

Abstract: The invention provides a superconductor comprising particles made of a superconductive material, and a conductive material. The conductive material is selected to be driven to a superconductive state when in proximity to the superconductive material, and preferably at least includes gallium. An unbroken length of the conductive material is located sufficiently close to a plurality of the particles to be driven to a superconductive state by the superconductive material.

Abstract: A plurality of superconductor particles are formed being of a first material which is relatively brittle and is selected to be in a superconductive state at a relatively high temperature, typically above 77K which is the temperature of liquid nitrogen. A coating layer is formed on each superconductor particle, the coating layer being of a second material selected to be substantially non-reactive with the first material. The coated particles are then mixed with a third material to form a composite wherein the third material is in proximity to the first material but separated by the second material. The third material is selected to be relatively ductile when compared to the first material and to be driven to a superconductive state by the first material when the first material is in a superconductive state and the third material is in proximity to the first material. The second material protects the third material from oxidation by the first material.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming coated units. A bonding energy between agglomerated particles is overcome to separate the particles into deagglomerated units. Each unit may have one or more particles, and at least 50% of the units preferably have widths of less than 10 microns. A layer is then formed on at least some of the deagglomerated units to form a plurality of coated units. The coated units are then captured.

Abstract: The invention provides a superconductor comprising particles made of a metallic boride superconductive material, and a conductive material. The conductive material is selected to be driven to a superconductive state when in proximity to the superconductive material. An unbroken length of the conductive material is located sufficiently close to a plurality of the particles to be driven to a superconductive state by the superconductive material.