Superconductor Patents (Class 29/599)
  • Publication number: 20100022396
    Abstract: A two-sided joint for splicing two laminated wires together, while preserving the mechanical integrity of the wire is disclosed. The two-sided joint can splice two laminated HTS wires having tapered ends and includes a bottom strap and a top strap. Under one aspect, a laminated, spliced superconductor wire includes a superconductor joint, which includes first and second superconductor wires, each wire including a laminate layer, a substrate layer overlaying the laminate layer, a buffer layer overlaying the substrate layer, a superconductor layer overlaying the buffer layer, a gap layer overlaying the superconductor layer, and a laminate layer overlaying the gap layer, a first HTS strap in electrical connection with the second laminate layer of the first laminate wire and the second laminate layer of the second laminate wire, and a backing strap proximate to the first laminate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander OTTO, Peter D. ANTAYA, John P. VOCCIO, Henry C. VALCOUR
  • 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: 7642222
    Abstract: The present invention provides articles including a base substrate including a layer of an oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure layer thereon; and, a buffer layer upon the oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure layer, the buffer layer having an outwardly facing surface with a surface morphology including particulate outgrowths of from 10 nm to 500 run in size at the surface, such particulate outgrowths serving as flux pinning centers whereby the article maintains higher performance within magnetic fields than similar articles without the necessary density of such outgrowths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Haiyan Wang, Stephen R. Foltyn, Boris A. Maiorov, Leonardo Civale
  • Publication number: 20090312187
    Abstract: A metallic thin film is wound around a core material made of a first metallic material in a predetermined number of windings to provide a first wire rod having a diameter which is applicable for roll forming in a longitudinal direction of the core material. The metallic thin film is formed by rolling a second metallic material and carrying out an annealing heat treatment on the rolled second metallic material. The first wire rod is cut to provide second wire rods, and the second wire rods are filled into a billet for multi-wires to provide a multi billet. The multi billet is extruded and drawn. Thereafter, a heat treatment is carried out on the drawn material to provide a superconducting wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Seido, Katsumi Ohata, Kazuhiko Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7633014
    Abstract: A superconductor cable includes a superconductive cable core (1) and a cryostat (2) enclosing the same. The cable core (1) has a superconductive conductor (3), an insulation (4) surrounding the same and a shielding (5) surrounding the insulation (4). A layer (3b) of a dielectric or semiconducting material is applied to a central element (3a) formed from a normally conducting material as a strand or tube and a layer (3c) of at least one wire or strip of superconductive material is placed helically on top. The central element (3a) and the layer (3c) are connected to each other in an electrically conducting manner at the ends of the cable core (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Arnaud Allais, Frank Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7627356
    Abstract: A multifilament high temperature superconductor with thick, striated stabilizer is disclosed, including a substrate, a buffer layer, a multifilament superconductor layer, and at least one thick stabilizer layer. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes and methods for manufacturing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Xun Zhang, Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 7622426
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a crystalline end-product. The method comprising exposing a fluoride-containing precursor to a hydrogen fluoride absorber under conditions suitable for the conversion of the precursor into the crystalline end-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Solovyov, Harold Wiesmann
  • Patent number: 7618923
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the improvement of the supercurrent carrying capabilities, i.e. the increase of critical current densities, of polycrystalline superconductor structures, especially of high-Tcsuperconductors. By modifying the microstructure of the substrate or by appropriately influencing the buffer layers in coated conductors to obtain grains with large aspect ratios which are predominantly oriented along the direction of the current flow, grain boundaries with large areas are obtained in the polycrystalline superconducting film that can support large critical currents along the superconductor. Thereby large critical currents are obtained in the superconductor for a given spread of misorientation angles of the grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Jochen Dieter Mannhart
  • 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: 20090264295
    Abstract: A superconducting coil comprises a plurality of windings. Each winding comprises at least one superconducting segment having an exposed area containing a granular superconducting substance. A junction electrically connects at least one superconducting segment of one winding to at least one superconducting segment of another winding. The junction is formed by coupling the granular superconducting substance of the exposed area of the at least one superconducting segment of the one winding to the granular superconducting substance of the exposed area of the at least one superconducting segment of the other winding. In an embodiment, the exposed areas are positioned to face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ASG Superconductors, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Nardelli, Roberto Marabotto, Adamo Laurenti
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090258788
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a Nb-based rod material which is used for producing a Nb3Sn superconducting wire material and in which satisfactory workability in Nb or a Nb-based alloy can be achieved, and a method of producing a superconducting wire material which can exhibit satisfactory superconducting characteristics using the Nb-based rod material. The Nb-based rod material is produced by a step of casting a raw material of this rod material using a casting mold having a circular or substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and a step of forming a columnar or substantially columnar rod material by hot-working or cold-working the resulting product obtained by the casting with a working apparatus whose cross-sectional shape is a circular or substantially circular shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Takayoshi Miyazaki, Shigenobu Nanba, Kyoji Zaitsu
  • Patent number: 7596852
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting wire includes the step of drawing a wire formed by coating raw material powder for a superconductor with a metal, the step of first rolling rolling a multifilamentary wire after the step of drawing, and the step of first sintering sintering the multifilamentary wire after the step of the first rolling. The method further includes the step of holding a clad wire, a multifilamentary wire, or a multifilamentary wire under a reduced-pressure atmosphere in at least one of an interval between the step of drawing and the step of the first rolling and an interval between the step of the first rolling and the step of the first sintering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Fujikami, Takeshi Kato
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090239752
    Abstract: A superconducting device comprises a dielectric substrate, and a plane-figure type resonator pattern made of a superconductive material and formed on a first face of the dielectric substrate. The resonator pattern has a notch at least a portion of which is round.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akihiko Akasegawa, Manabu Kai, Teru Nakanishi, Kazunori Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7593758
    Abstract: A superconducting tape having reduced AC losses. The tape has a high temperature superconductor layer that is segmented. Disruptive strips, formed in one of the tape substrate, a buffer layer, and the superconducting layer create parallel discontinuities in the superconducting layer that separate the current-carrying elements of the superconducting layer into strips or filament-like structures. Segmentation of the current-carrying elements has the effect of reducing AC current losses. Methods of making such a superconducting tape and reducing AC losses in such tapes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Foltyn, Quanxi Jia, Paul N. Arendt, Terry G. Holesinger, Haiyan Wang
  • Patent number: 7585377
    Abstract: Critical current densities of internal tin wire having values of at least 2000 A/mm2 at temperature of 4.2 K and in magnetic field of 12 T are achieved by controlling the following parameters in a distributed barrier subelement design: wt % Sn in bronze; atomic Nb:Sn; local area ratio; reactable barrier; and barrier thickness relative to the filament thickness; and the design for restacking and wire reduction to control the maximum filament diameter at the subsequent heat reaction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Oxford Superconducting Technology
    Inventors: Michael Field, Jeff Parrell, Youzhu Zhang, Seungok Hong
  • Publication number: 20090221426
    Abstract: The fault current limiter in a cryogenic liquid heat transfer medium, employs a high temperature superconductor (HTS) element which has a high thermal resistance coating material encapsulating the high temperature superconductor to form an intermediate boundary layer between the HTS element and the heat transfer medium. The coating material has a thickness which enables it to minimize the retained heat in the HTS element during recovery from a fault condition, wherein substantially all heat transfer from the encapsulated high temperature superconductor element to the liquid cryogen heat transfer medium occurs at the nucleate boiling heat transfer rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Drew Willard Hazelton
  • Publication number: 20090206968
    Abstract: The superconducting winding (2) is configured such that it has a band-shaped HTS conductor (4) of the Röbel-conductor type, made of band-shaped HTS individual conductors that are transposed among each other. An armoring band (5) is to be wound to the prefabricated HTS conductor (4), the band not being metallurgically connected to the HTS conductor (4) and being subject to a comparatively larger winding tension (WZ2). The armoring band (5) is wound at a winding tension (WZ2) that is at least 1.5 times, preferably at least 3 times as large as the winding tension (WZ1) of the HTS conductor (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Hussennether, Werner Herkert
  • Publication number: 20090209428
    Abstract: The invention offers a method of producing a Bi-2223-based superconducting wire. The method has a preparing step for preparing a precursor 11 that is a powder and that is formed of a main phase, composed of a Bi-2212 phase, and the remainder, composed of a Bi-2223 phase and a nonsuperconducting phase, a filling step for filling the precursor into a metallic tube at a pressure of at most 1,000 Pa, and a sealing step for sealing the metallic tube filled, at a pressure of at most 1,000 Pa, with the precursor. The method decreases the intrusion of impurity gases and thereby increases the critical-current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090194316
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a copper clad aluminum channel superconductive conductor, an electrically conductive wire comprising a metal or alloy core is formed with a longitudinally extending groove in a surface thereof. A wire made of a material that exhibits superconducting properties within a defined temperature range is soldered into the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicants: SIEMENS MAGNET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, OXFORD SUPERCONDUCTING TECHNOLOGY INC
    Inventors: Adrian Mark Thomas, Seungok Hong
  • Patent number: 7569521
    Abstract: A biaxially textured article includes a substrate, a first buffer layer disposed on the substrate, the first buffer layer having uniaxial crystal texture characterized by out-of-plane texture with no significant in-plane crystallographic texture. A metal comprising second buffer layer is disposed on the first buffer layer, the second buffer layer having a biaxially textured surface. An electronically active layer, such as a superconductor layer, can be disposed on the second buffer film. Ion-beam assisted processes can be used to biaxially texture the surface of the second buffer film after its deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: David Paul Norton, Seh-Jin Park
  • Publication number: 20090192043
    Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of oxide superconducting rods. The present invention provides a process for the preparation of oxide superconducting rods. The process includes the steps of a cold isopressing process without addition of binder, particularly thin and those based on Ag-added (Bi,Pb)2 Sr2 Ca2 Cu3 O10+x is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Narinder Kumar Arora, Gursharan Kaur Padam, Ramesh Sethi, Mukul Sharma, Shrikant Narayan Ekbote
  • Patent number: 7566684
    Abstract: A superconductor coating inclusive, tape-like electrical conductor and windings using such conductor for magnets and electrical machines, etc. The described windings are suited for inclusion of successor superconductor materials such as yttrium barium copper oxide wherein magnetic flux related losses can potentially be excessive and preclude successful machine operation. Winding orientation and configuration of the conductor in an alternating current machine for lower losses are disclosed along with methods and apparatus for achieving the desired windings. Windings intended for differing locations within a machine of this type are made possible by the invention. Equations relating to magnetic losses incurred in such windings are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: George A. Levin, Paul N. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7562433
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of nanometer scale metal fibers, followed by optional further processing into cables, yarns and textiles composed of the primary nanofibers. A multicomponent composite is first formed by drilling a billet of matrix metal, and inserting rods of the metal desired as nanofibers. Hexed or round rods can also be inserted into a matrix metal can. The diameter of this composite is then reduced by mechanical deformation methods. This composite is then cut to shorter lengths and reinserted into another billet of matrix metal, and again the diameter is reduced by mechanical deformation. This process of large scale metal stacking followed by mechanical deformation is repeated until the desired fiber size scale is reached, the fibers being contained in the matrix metal. After size reduction, the composite metal wires may be further processed into built up configurations, depending on intended application, by stranding, cabling, braiding, weaving, knitting, felting, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Oxford Superconducting Technology
    Inventors: Seung Hong, William G. Marancik, Jeff Parrell, Michael Field, Kenneth Marken, Youzhu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090176650
    Abstract: An internal diffusion process Nb3Sn superconducting wire is produced by drawing a composite wire including a composite material containing a plurality of Nb or Nb based alloy cores embedded in a Cu or Cu based alloy matrix and a Sn or Sn based alloy core disposed in the center portion, a diffusion barrier layer composed of Nb or Ta and disposed on the outer perimeter of the composite material, and stabilizing Cu disposed on the outside of the diffusion barrier layer and heat-treating the resulting composite wire so as to diffuse Sn and react Sn with the Nb or Nb based alloy cores, wherein the area percentage of the stabilizing Cu in a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axis center of the composite wire is 10% to 35% and the area percentage of the diffusion barrier layer is 10% to 25%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Takayuki Miyatake, Takayoshi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Kato, Kyoji Zaitsu
  • Publication number: 20090170709
    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: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Arnaud Allais, Dirk Isfort, Claus-Friedrich Theune, Klaus Porcher
  • Publication number: 20090156410
    Abstract: In a fabrication method of a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire by filling a tube with a MgB2 superconducting powder and forming it into a tape or wire, a fabrication method of a MgB2 superconducting tape (and wire) which is characterized by using a MgB2 superconducting powder having a high critical current density (Jc) owing to its lowered crystallinity and having potential for excellent grain connectivity as the MgB2 superconducting powder. Provided are a fabrication method of a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire which can fabricate a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire having a level of Jc sufficiently high for practical applications and homogeneous quality throughout its length by an ex-situ process employing a material of the composition suitable for its working environment as the sheath material, and a MgB2 superconducting tape and wire thereby fabricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakane, Hitoshi Kitaguchi, Hiroki Fujii, Hiroaki Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7543370
    Abstract: In a method for production of a superconducting magnetic coil, winding of superconducting wires of the superconducting magnetic coil is implemented with at least one UV-curable plastic, and the UV-curable plastic is at least partially cured with UV light during the winding. A magnetic resonance apparatus has a superconducting magnetic coil that is produced according to this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Bittner
  • Publication number: 20090131262
    Abstract: A multifilament high temperature superconductor with thick, striated stabilizer is disclosed, including a substrate, a buffer layer, a multifilament superconductor layer, and at least one thick stabilizer layer. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes and methods for manufacturing same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Xun Zhang, Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 7531205
    Abstract: A method of continuously coating at least one substrate with a buffer layer as a support for a ceramic superconducting material is disclosed. The method includes loading the at least one substrate onto a respective feed spool and feeding the at least one substrate through a vacuum deposition chamber. The method further includes coating the at least one substrate while the at least one substrate is bombarded by ion beams from dual RF-ion sources forming at least one coated substrate, and reloading the at least one coated substrate onto a respective take up spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkat Selvamanickam, Srinivas Sathiraju
  • Publication number: 20090111700
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a superconducting strip having a metal coating layer and a method of manufacturing the superconducting strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hong Soo Ha, Sang Soo Oh, Dong Woo Ha, Kyu Jung Song, Rock Kil Ko, Ho Sup Kim
  • Publication number: 20090105079
    Abstract: In a superconductive connection for two end pieces of superconductors that each have a matrix of normally-conductive material and at least one superconductor lead, of superconductive material, in the matrix, and in a method for making such a superconductive connection, the respective end pieces of the conductor leads are stripped of the matrix material and are inserted into a sheath or bushing. MgB2, as superconductive contacting material, is additionally inserted into the sheath or bushing, so as to at least partially fill regions in the sheath or bushing between the conductor leads. The cross-section of the sheath or bushing is then reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Martino Leghissa
  • Patent number: 7521082
    Abstract: A superconducting article is disclosed, including a substrate and a chemical vapor deposited thin film superconducting layer overlying the substrate, the superconducting layer having a critical current not less than about 100 A/cm width at 77K and self field. The superconducting article may be a tape, multiple tapes, or a power device, such as a power cable, power generator, or power transformer. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing same and methods for using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventor: Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 7505800
    Abstract: A superconductive element containing Nb3Sn, in particular a multifilament wire, comprising at least one superconductive filament (8) which is obtained by a solid state diffusion reaction from a preliminary filament structure (1), said preliminary filament structure (1) containing an elongated hollow pipe (2) having an inner surface (3) and an outer surface (4), wherein said hollow pipe (2) consists of Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, wherein the outer surface (4) is in close contact with a surrounding bronze matrix (5) containing Cu and Sn, and wherein the inner surface (3) is in close contact with an inner bronze matrix (5) also containing Cu and Sn, is characterized in that the inner bronze matrix (5) of the preliminary filament structure (1) encloses in its central region an elongated core (6) consisting of a metallic material, said metallic material having at room temperature (=RT) a thermal expansion coefficient ?core<17*10?6K?1, preferably ?core?8*10?6 K?1, said metallic material having at RT a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin AG
    Inventors: René Flükiger, Vital Abächerli, Davide Uglietti, Daniel Eckert
  • Publication number: 20090057652
    Abstract: A multilayer structure with zirconium-oxide tunnel barriers. In one embodiment, the multilayer structure includes a first niobium (Nb) layer, a second niobium (Nb) layer, and a plurality of zirconium-oxide tunnel barriers sandwiched between the first niobium (Nb) layer and the second niobium (Nb) layer, wherein the plurality of zirconium-oxide tunnel barriers is formed with N layers of zirconium-oxide, N being an integer greater than 1, and M layers of zirconium, M being an integer no less than N, such that between any two neighboring layers of zirconium-oxide, a layer of zirconium is sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ivan NEVIRKOVETS, John KETTERSON, Oleksandr CHERNYASHEVSKYY, Serhii SHAFRANIUK
  • Publication number: 20090058592
    Abstract: Disclosed is a saddle-shaped coil winding which is formed onto an outer tube surface from a planar race track-type coil shape so as to be provided with axially extending winding sections on the longitudinal side and winding sections that extend therebetween, are located on the front side, and form winding overhangs. The individual windings of the coil winding are to be formed with at least one band-shaped superconductor which comprises especially high Tc superconductor material and whose narrow side faces the outer tube surface. In order to prevent unacceptable mechanical stresses of the conductor when forming the coil, the windings in the saddle shape have a circumferential length which is virtually unchanged from the length in the planar oil shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Martino Leghissa, Norbert Prolss
  • Patent number: 7496390
    Abstract: An article having low ac loss includes an elongated substrate having a length and a width; and a plurality of filaments comprising an oxide superconductor extending substantially along the length of the elongated substrate and spaced apart from one other filaments across the width of the elongated substrate, wherein at least one filament crosses over at least one other filament such that the at least one filament occupies a first position across the width of the elongated substrate before the crossover and a second position across the width of the elongated substrate after crossover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Cornelis Leo Hans Thieme, Martin W. Rupich, John D. Scudiere, Oleg A. Chevtchenko
  • Publication number: 20090044398
    Abstract: A superconducting material useful for forming electrolytic devices is made by establishing multiple niobium or tantalum components in a primary billet of a ductile material; working the primary billet through a series of reduction steps to form the niobium or tantalum components into elongated elements; cutting and restacking the resulting elongated elements with a porous confining layer to form a secondary billet, working the secondary billet through a series of reduction steps including twisting and final rolling to thin ribbon cross-sections with greater than 5:1 Aspect Ratios; cutting the resulting elongated billet into sections; and leaching the core and sheath at least in part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: JAMES WONG
  • Publication number: 20090042731
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to offer a method of producing an oxide superconducting wire that has a uniform performance throughout its length so that a wire can be obtained with just the intended length. The method of producing an oxide superconducting wire comprises a drawing step for drawing a wire having a configuration in which a precursor powder of a (Bi, Pb) 2223 superconducting body is covered with a metal sheath, a primary rolling step for rolling the wire having undergone the drawing step, a primary heat-treating step for heat-treating the wire having undergone the primary rolling step, a secondary rolling step for rolling the wire having undergone the primary heat-treating step, and a secondary heat-treating step for heat-treating the wire having undergone the secondary rolling step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-ichi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090038822
    Abstract: A multifilament superconductor (1) has a core area (2), several superconductor filaments (7) and reinforcement filaments (6). The superconductor filaments (7) and the reinforcement filaments (6) are arranged, so that they have a regular two-dimensional matrix (5) in the cross-section of core area (2). The reinforcement filaments (6) consist of tantalum or a tantalum alloy, and the superconductor filaments (7) each have a core (8), made from a powder metallurgically produced superconductor, which is enclosed by an inner shell (9), made of a non-superconducting metal or a non-superconducting alloy. The core area (2) is enclosed by an outer shell (3), made of a non-superconducting metal or a non-superconducting alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Manfred Thoener, Horst Ehser, Andreas Szulczyk, Alfred Auer, Vital Abaecherli
  • Publication number: 20090036312
    Abstract: A multifilament superconductor (1) has a core area (2) and several superconductor filaments (4). The superconductor filaments (4) each have a core (6) made of a powder metallurgically produced superconductor. The core area (2) is enclosed by an outer shell (3) made of a non-superconducting metal or a non-superconducting alloy (8, 10). The outer shell (3) has at least one reinforcement element (9) made of tantalum or a tantalum alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Manfred Thoener, Horst Ehser, Andreas Szulczyk, Alfred Auer, Vital Abaecherli
  • Patent number: 7480978
    Abstract: A superconducting material useful for forming electrolytic devices is made by establishing multiple niobium or tantalum components in a primary billet of a ductile material; working the primary billet through a series of reduction steps to form the niobium or tantalum components into elongated elements; cutting and restacking the resulting elongated elements with a porous confining layer to form a secondary billet, working the secondary billet through a series of reduction steps including twisting and final rolling to thin ribbon cross-sections with greater than 5:1 Aspect Ratios; cutting the resulting elongated billet into sections; and leaching the core and sheath at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Composite Materials Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Wong
  • Publication number: 20090018023
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a bismuth-based oxide superconductor capable of obtaining a high critical current density and a superconducting wire containing a bismuth-based oxide superconductor manufactured by this method. The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a bismuth-based oxide superconductor containing a 2223 phase having a 2223 composition in a composition Bi—Sr—Ca—Cu or (Bi,Pb)—Sr—Ca—Cu, comprising a first step of charging a raw material containing a 2212 phase having a 2212 composition in a composition Bi—Sr—Ca—Cu or (Bi,Pb)—Sr—Ca—Cu with a critical temperature of not more than 70 K into a metal sheath, a second step of performing plastic working on the metal sheath charged with the raw material and a third step of performing heat treatment on the metal sheath charged with the raw material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Naoki Ayai
  • Patent number: 7476281
    Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin AG
    Inventors: René Fluekiger, Vital Abaecherli
  • Patent number: 7476280
    Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin AG
    Inventors: René Fluekiger, Vital Abaecherli, Daniel Eckert
  • Publication number: 20090011942
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting wire is provided. A MgB2 superconducting wire capable of obtaining a stabilizer through an inexpensive process can have high critical current density and magnetic field characteristics without separate plastic. A seamed portion of the wire can be welded to make it possible to plate the wire with conductive materials and inhibit a decrease in quality of superconducting powder. It is possible to obtain a stabilizer without inserting the superconducting powder into a tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: YOON SANG LEE, WOO HYUN CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20080318794
    Abstract: A superconductive wire wherein the superconductive wire has a core portion containing magnesium diboride as the main component and a continuous metallic sheath firmly adhered to the core portion; the core portion is kept substantially vacuum; and the content of an inert gas such as an Ar gas contained in the core portion is in the range of 0.00002 to 10 ppm. Further, disclosed is a method for producing a superconductive wire, wherein the method comprises the steps of mixing powder of a source material constituting magnesium diboride to form a core portion of the superconductive wire in an inert gas, filling a pipe with the mixed material powder in vacuum environment, sealing the pipe with vacuum after filled with the material powder, forming magnesium diboride powder by heating the vacuum-sealed pipe (sheath), and forming the core portion by wiredrawing the pipe in the state where the magnesium diboride powder is sealed with vacuum, and the core portion firmly sticks to the wiredrawn metallic pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Masaya Takahashi, Kazuhide Tanaka, Michiya Okada
  • Patent number: 7463915
    Abstract: An elongated article comprising a first layer of oxide superconductor filaments extending substantially along the length of the elongated article and spaced apart from one another across the width of the elongated substrate; a second layer of oxide superconductor filaments extending substantially along the length of the elongated article and spaced apart from one another across the width of the elongated article, wherein the first filament layer is positioned above the second filament layer; and a barrier layer positioned between the first and second filament layers, wherein the filaments of the first and second filament layers are positioned such that at least one filament of the first layer crosses at least one filament of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Cornelis Leo Hans Thieme, Martin W. Rupich
  • Patent number: 7459031
    Abstract: A method for producing an Nb3Sn superconductive wire material using a powder process is provided, in which a powdered raw material is filled in a sheath made of Nb or an Nb-based alloy, and the above sheath is subjected to diameter reduction to form a wire, followed by heat treatment to form a superconducting layer at the interface between the sheath and the filled powder. The above powdered raw material contains powdered Sn, powdered Cu, and a powdered alloy or a powdered intermetallic compound, which is formed from Sn and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, and Ta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Takayoshi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Kato, Kyoji Zaitsu, Kyoji Tachikawa