Earticle

A high gradient magnetic (HGM) separator prototype with the 2nd generation high temperature superconducting (2G HTS) magnetic system operated in sub-cooled nitrogen is presently under development at NRC “Kurchatov Institute” (Moscow, Russia). The main goal of the project is an attempt to shift away from the complicated liquid helium cryostats towards simple cryocooler-based nitrogen cryogenics as much more convenient for HGM separators industrial applications. Using of commercial HTS tapes allows to get a sufficient level of magnetic fields and extraction forces with low energy consumption. The expected operational parameters of the device are 1.2-1.5 T in the empty operational gap and up to 3 T on the ferromagnetic filters. In this paper we briefly describe the design of the HTS rotary separator prototype with the horizontally oriented rotor axis and propose different types of ferromagnetic filters intended for weakly magnetic ores enrichment.

Low-noise amplifiers in the radio-frequency (RF) band based on the direct current (DC) superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) can be used for quantum-limited measurements in precision physics experiments. For the prediction of peak-gain frequency of these amplifiers, we need a reliable design formula for the resonance frequency of the microstrip circuit. We improved the formula for the resonance frequency, determined by parameters of the DC SQUID and the input coil, and compared the design values with experimental values. The proposed formula showed much accurate results than the conventional formula. Minor deviation of the experimental results from the theory can be corrected by using the measured geometrical parameters of the input coil line.

Torque tubes in High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) motor transfer torque from superconducting field winding rotor to the room temperature shaft. It should have minimum heat conduction property for minimizing the load on cryo-refrigerator. Generally, these torque tubes are made with stainless steel material because of high strength, very low outgassing and low thermal contraction properties at cryogenic temperatures and vacuum conditions. With recent developments in composite materials, these torque tubes could be made of composites such as Kevlar and S-Glass, which have the required properties like high strength and low thermal conductivity at cryogenic temperatures, but with a reduced weight. Development and testing of torque tubes made of these composites for HTS motor are taken up at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Hyderabad in collaboration with Central Institute of Plastics and Engineering Technology (CIPET), Chennai and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. As these materials are subjected to vacuum, it is important to measure their outgassing rates under vacuum conditions before manufacturing prototype torque tubes. The present study focusses on the outgassing characteristics of Kevlar and S-Glass, using an Outgassing Measurement System (OMS), developed at IIT Kharagpur. The OMS facility works under vacuum environment, in which the test samples are exposed to vacuum conditions over a sufficient period of time. The outgassing measurements for the composite samples were obtained using pressure-rise technique. These studies are useful to quantify the outgassing rate of composite materials under vacuum conditions and to suggest them for manufacturing composite torque tubes used in HTS motors.

This paper presents analytical and numerical simulation approaches on charging characteristics of no-insulation (NI) REBCO pancake coil by using the equivalent circuit model to estimate magnetic performance response in the coil. The analytical methods provide closed form or definite solution in the form of complete mathematical expressions but they are hard to solve the complex problems. Numerical methods have become popular with the development of the computing capabilities to solve the problems which are impossible or very hard to solve analytically. First of all, the equivalent circuit model are proposed to develop the simulation code for both analytical and numerical method. The charging test was performed under critical current to obtain magnetic field induced and terminal voltage through the radial as well as spiral current paths within the coil. To verify the validity of both proposed methods, the simulation results were compared and discussed with the experimental results.

Niobium nitride (NbN) superconducting thin films with the thickness of 100 and 400 nm have been deposited on the surfaces of silicon oxide/silicon substrates using a sputtering method. Their superconducting properties have been evaluated in terms of the transition temperature, critical magnetic field, and critical current density. In addition, the NbN films were patterned in a line with a width of 10 μm by a reactive ion etching (RIE) process for their characterization. This study proves the applicability of the standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) process in the fabrication of superconducting thin films without considerable degradation of superconducting properties.

The turn-to-turn contact resistance of 2G high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils with metal insulation (MI) is closely related to the stability of the coils, current charging rate and delay time [1]. MI coils were fabricated using five kinds of metal tapes such as aluminum (Al) tape, brass tape, stainless steel (SS) tape, copper (Cu)-plated tape and one-sided Cu-plated SS tape. The turn-to-turn contact surface resistances of co-winding model coils using Al tape, brass tape, and SS tape were 342.6, 343.6 and 724.8 μΩ·cm2, respectively. The turn-to-turn contact resistance of the model coil using the one-sided Cu-plated SS tape was 248.8 μΩ·cm2, which was lower than that of Al and brass tape. Al or brass tape can be used to reduce contact resistance and improve the stability of the coil. Considering strength, SS tape is recommended. For strength and low contact resistance, SS tape with copper plating on one side can be used.

When REBCO coated conductors (CCs) are applied to superconducting devices such as coils and magnets, they are subjected to deformation in various modes such as compression/tension bending, uniaxial/transverse tension and torsion. Despite outstanding performances by REBCO CC tapes, their electromechanical properties have been evaluated primarily under uniaxial tension, therefore data about the critical current (Ic) response in the compressive strain region are lacking. In this study, the characteristic responses of Ic in REBCO CC tapes under bending strains in the range from tensile to compressive were evaluated. The springboard bending beam was used, wherein the CC tape sample was soldered onto the surface of the springboard. A Goldacker-type bending test rig, which lacks a support holding the sample during testing, was used as a comparator. Degradation in Ic behaviors, including strain sensitivity, in differently processed REBCO CC tapes were examined based on the test rig used.

In this study, the electromechanical properties in Sn-Cu double layer stabilized GdBCO coated conductor (CC) tapes with and without external lamination under uniaxial tension were examined at 77 K and self-field. Their irreversible stress and strain limits were determined using a loading-unloading scheme based on different critical current (Ic) recovery criteria. The repeated tests were performed and statistical estimation was done to check the reproducibility depending on the criterion adopted in evaluating the electromechanical properties. From the results, it showed that the Sn-Cu double-layer stabilized CC tapes have the higher irreversible stress limit, but lower irreversible strain limit as compared to brass laminated ones. Through the repeated tests, it can be found that a small scattering of irreversible limits existed in both CC tape samples. Finally, similar strain sensitivity of Ic in both CC tapes was obtained.

We have investigated the effect of Y2O3 nanoparticles on the pinning properties of Y2O3-doped GdBa2Cu3O7-δ (GdBCO) films. Both undoped and Y2O3-doped GdBCO films were grown on CeO2-buffered MgO (100) single crystal substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using KrF (λ=248 nm) laser. The Y2O3 doping contents were controlled up to ~ 2.5 area% by varying the internal angles of Y2O3 sectors put on the top surface of GdBCO target. Compared with the Gd2O3-doped GdBCO films previously reported by our group [1], the Y2O3-doped GdBCO films exhibited less severe critical temperature (Tc) drop and thus slightly enhanced critical current densities (Jc) and pinning force densities (Fp) at 65 K for the applied field parallel to the c-axis of the GdBCO matrix (B//c) with increasing the doping content. Below 40 K, the in-field Jc and Fp values of all Y2O3-doped GdBCO films exhibited higher than those of undoped GdBCO film, suggesting that Y2O3 inclusions might act as effective pinning centers.

To improve in-field critical current densities (Jc) of GdBa2Cu3O7-δ (GdBCO) coated conductors(CCs) fabricated by the reactive co-evaporation by deposition and reaction (RCE-DR) process, employing the nominal composition of Gd:Ba:Cu=1:1:2.5, we tried to refine the Gd2O3 particles trapped in the GdBCO superconducting matrix. For this purpose, we carefully selected the processing conditions on the stability phase diagram of GdBCO for this composition. By lowering the growth temperature of Gd2O3 in the liquid, we could refine the average particle size of Gd2O3 particles trapped in the GdBCO matrix and also achieve the zero-resistive transition temperatures (Tc,zero) of 92.3~94.2 K. Unfortunately, however, it was unsuccessful to achieve enhanced in-field Jc values from these samples because of an air-contamination of the amorphous precursor film before its conversion into crystalline GdBCO film, suggesting that any exposure of the amorphous precursor film to air is fatal in obtaining high performance GdBCO CCs via the RCE-DR process.

We analyzed the temperature dependency of the AC losses in high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils. In the case of a short sample of an HTS tape, the magnetization loss at 4.2 K could be higher than the one at 77 K for a same transport current. It happens when the perpendicular magnetic field is above a certain magnitude. The AC loss characteristics of solenoidal coils have been analyzed at the temperatures of 65 K and 77 K. They were categorized by the aspect ratios. The operating current of a solenoid was normally set about 70 % of the critical current. An HTS solenoid with the same operating current of 77 K causes larger AC losses at 65 K in the most cases of the HTS solenoids. We also analyzed the AC loss characteristics due to the temperature variations for three types of superconducting magnetic energy storages. Two of them were solenoidal types and the other was toroidal type. The results showed the tendency for the coils to have higher AC losses at lower temperature with the same operating currents and scenarios.

Currently, the development of industry makes needs larger electric supply. Providers must consider the efficiency about losses and reliability of the system. In this case, DC power system can save electrical energy; long-distance transmission line losses. Relevance to switch technology with a voltage-source converter (VSC) in AC-DC conversion system have been researched. But, protection device of DC-link against fault current is still needed to study much. VSC DC power system is vulnerable to DC-cable short-circuit and ground faults, because DC-link has a huge size of capacitor filter which releases extremely large current during DC faults. Furthermore, DC has a fatal flaw that current zero crossing is nonexistence. To interrupt the DC, several methods which make a zero crossing is used; parallel connecting self-excited series LC circuit with main switch, LC circuit with power electronic device called hybrid DC circuit breaker. Meanwhile, self-excited oscillator needs a huge size capacitor that produces big oscillation current which makes zero crossing. This capacitor has a quite effective on the price of DCCB. In this paper, hybrid self-excited type superconducting DCCB which are using AC circuit breaker system is studied by simulation tool PSCAD/EMTDC.

As the offshore wind farms increase, interest in the efficient power system configuration of submarine cables is increasing. Currently, transmission system of the offshore wind farm uses almost AC system. High temperature superconducting (HTS) power cable of the high capacity has long been considered as an enabling technology for power transmission. The HTS cable is a feasible way to increase the transmission capacity of electric power and to provide a substantial reduction in transmission losses and a resultant effect of low CO2 emission. The HTS cable reduces its size and laying sectional area in comparison with a conventional XLPE or OF cable. This is an advantage to reduce its construction cost. In this paper, we discuss the economic feasibility of the 22.9 kV HTS power cable and the conventional AC power cables for an offshore wind farm connections. The 22.9 kV HTS power cable cost for the offshore wind farm connections was calculated based on the capital expenditure and operating expense. The economic feasibility of the HTS power cable and the AC power cables were compared for the offshore wind farm connections. In the case of the offshore wind farm with a capacity of 100 MW and a distance of 3 km to the coast, cost of the 22.9 kV HTS power cable for the offshore wind farm connections was higher than 22.9 kV AC power cable and lower than 70 kV AC power transmission cable.

Due to large in-field current carrying capacity and strong mechanical strength, a REBCO wire has been regarded as a viable high temperature superconductor (HTS) option for high field MRI and > 1 GHz (>23.5 T) NMR magnets. However, a REBCO magnet is well known to have an inherent problem of field inhomogeneity, so-called ‘Screening Current induced magnetic Field (SCF)’. Recently, ‘field shaking’ and ‘current overshoot operation’ techniques have been successfully demonstrated to mitigate the SCF and enhance the field homogeneity by experiments. To investigate the effectiveness of current overshooting operation technique, a numerical simulation is conducted for a test REBCO magnet composed of a stack of double pancake coils using ‘2D edge-element magnetic field formulation’ combined with ‘domain homogenization’ scheme. The simulation result demonstrates that an appropriate amount of current overshoot can negate the SCF. To verify the simulation results, current overshoot experiments are conducted for the REBCO magnet in liquid nitrogen. Experimental results also demonstrate the possible application of current overshoot technique to mitigate the SCF and enhance the field homogeneity.