SUPERCONDUCTING CABLES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

Superconducting cables employ one or more superconducting tapes wound around a former. A compact superconducting cable is configured using a former having a small diameter, e.g., less than 10 millimeters. A flexible superconducting cable is configured with a former made of a flexible material. Superconducting tape conductors are wound around the former, with the superconducting layer in compression on the inside of the wind turns of the wind, to prevent irreversible damage to the superconductor. A layer of solder is on the superconducting tape(s) or solder sheaths are wound between tape conductors in each layer. The one or more solder layers or sheaths are melted to cause the solder to flow within the structure, to bond some or all of the superconducting tape conductors together and form a mechanically strong cable with an enhanced level of electrical connectivity between tapes in the cable.

主权项

1. A superconducting cable comprising:
a former; a plurality of superconducting tape conductors wound in a plurality of layers around the former in a helical fashion, each superconducting tape conductor having at least one superconducting layer, wherein each layer of superconducting tape conductors is arranged either over or under at least one other layer in the plurality of layers in a radial direction; at least one conductor of non-superconducting, conductive material wound: (a) between adjacent windings of at least one of the superconducting tape conductors in at least one layer of the superconducting tape conductors, or (b) between two of the layers of superconducting tape conductors, where the at least one layer comprises a plurality of layers of superconducting tape conductors; and solder that is configured to be melted after the cable is assembled, the solder comprising (a) a layer of solder coated on at least one of the superconducting tape conductors such that the at least one superconducting tape conductor with the layer of solder is wound around the former, (b) a solder material wound between adjacent winds of the superconducting tape conductors, (c) a solder material arranged between at least two of the layers where the at least one layer comprises a plurality of layers, or (d) a layer of solder coated on the at least one conductor of non-superconducting, conductive material.