Abstract: On transition from the superconducting state to the normal conducting state, current limiters having a high-temperature superconductor increase their electrical resistance and thereby limit an electric current which is flowing through them. To provide electrical stabilization, the high-temperature superconductor is combined with a silver foil having a layer thickness of <50 &mgr;m to form an extensive composite conductor with good conductivity. The ratio of the layer thickness of the high-temperature superconductor to that of the silver foil should be >10. To produce this composite conductor, the silver sheet is placed on one side on a 2 mm thick MgO powder layer and, on the other side, is covered with a 600 &mgr;m thick so-called green sheet which contains a high-temperature superconductor powder and an organic binder.

Abstract: A current limiting device including at least one superconductor and at least one nonsuperconducting shunt resistor in parallel with each superconductor. Each superconductor has a first main superconductor face in contact with a main shunt resistor face of a shunt resistor so as to form a compound conductor generally in the form of a meandering band having a band width greater than approximately 3.5 times the superconductor thickness. At least one insulator has opposing faces each in contact with a compound conductor. Multiple compound conductors are arranged such that current flows in opposite directions through adjacent compound conductors.

Abstract: In the case of high-temperature superconductors (6) which are used as inductive current limiters, unless any special precautionary measure is taken, there is a risk that short-circuit currents can lead to local stress centers and hot spots, and to local destruction of the high-temperature superconductor. In order to avoid this, a hollow cylinder (SL) of the high-temperature superconductor (6) is coated with a 1 .mu.m thick conductive-silver layer (E1). A second 10 .mu.m thick metal layer of foil made of silver or aluminum can be deposited thereon. In order to reduce or to avoid tensile stresses in the ceramic of the hollow cylinder (SL) made of a high-temperature superconductor, and in order to reduce the electrical contact resistance of the metal layers, this hollow cylinder (SL) has a mechanical reinforcing element (7), made of an elastic steel wire, wound around it, at room temperature, under tensile stress.