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The basic cable has a plurality of flat, tape-shaped ribbon superconductor wires assembled to form a stack having a rectangular cross section. The stack has a twist about the longitudinal axis of the stack. The wires are YBCO, BSCCO, or MgB₂ tape conductors. The basic cables can be twisted together to form a larger cable that transmits higher electric current. The twisting is important in order to reduce undesired magnetic flux coupling between superconducting wires. The superconducting cable is disposed within and spaced apart from an electrical insulator, and the space between the cable and the insulator provides a channel for coolant. A cryostat surrounds the insulator to create a return coolant channel or a vacuum space for thermal insulation. There can be multiple sets of superconductors and insulators within one cryostat.

Cabling method of HTS flat tape superconducting wires

Keywords:
Superconductor cable, High temperature superconductor (HTS)

Applications:
Power transmission cables, magnet conductors, data server centers, power distribution in microgrids, power transmission from alternative energy sources

Problem:

Demand for high current capacities in both AC and DC applications

Mounting superconducting tapes in limited dimension

Advantages:

Adaptability in both AC and DC applications over wide ranges of current and voltage

Significantly higher current density of power cables and magnet conductors

Inventors:

Makoto Takayasu (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT)

Joseph V. Minervini (Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, MIT)

Leslie Bromberg (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT)

Intellectual Property:
U.S. Patent Number 8,437,819, issued May 7, 2013

Publications:
M. Takayasu, J.V. Minervini, and L. Bromberg, Torsion strain effects on critical currents of HTS superconducting tapes,” CEC-ICMC 2009, and the 10th Issue of ESNF.

Cabling method of HTS flat tape superconducting wires

Keywords: Superconductor cable, High temperature superconductor (HTS)

Applications: Power transmission cables, magnet conductors, data server centers, power distribution in microgrids, power transmission from alternative energy sources

Problem: Demand for high current capacities in both AC and DC applications Mounting superconducting tapes in limited dimension

Advantages: Adaptability in both AC and DC applications over wide ranges of current and voltage Significantly higher current density of power cables and magnet conductors

Inventors: Makoto Takayasu (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT) Joseph V. Minervini (Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, MIT) Leslie Bromberg (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT)

Intellectual Property: U.S. Patent Number 8,437,819, issued May 7, 2013

Publications: M. Takayasu, J.V. Minervini, and L. Bromberg, Torsion strain effects on critical currents of HTS superconducting tapes,” CEC-ICMC 2009, and the 10th Issue of ESNF.