US 11,387,741 B2 · Superconducting magnet engine

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a Meissner Engine Regulator (MER) that includes a superconducting inductive element (SCIE) supplying a secondary winding coupled to recirculate excess energy from the SCIE core to a feedback winding controlled to regulate the SCIE magnetic field strength to be substantially at or below a critical magnetic field strength (HC). In an illustrative example, Hc may be the maximum field strength to obtain the Meissner effect in the SCIE. In some examples, the SCIE may be wound with n-filar windings. The SCIE may further include a first primary electrically coupled to and powered by a DC-to-AC power inverter, for example. The secondary winding may operate to remove excess energy from the magnetic field in the SCIE, for example, and store it in a capacitor. The SCIE may be supercooled, with liquid nitrogen, for example, such that the MER reaches electrical efficiencies approaching 100%.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A superconducting engine apparatus comprising:

an inductive element (T1) comprising:
a primary input winding (305) operable to induce a magnetic flux in response to a primary current in the primary input winding (305);
and,
a regulating winding (335) configured to magnetically couple to the primary input winding (305) via the magnetic flux;
an H-field regulator (330) operatively coupled to the regulating winding (335), the H-field regulator (330) configured to supply a regulating current to the regulating winding (335), such that an H-field associated with the magnetic flux within the inductive element is regulated at or below a critical magnetic field strength (Hc);
and,
a cryogenic cooling unit (125) coupled to the inductive element (T1) and configured to maintain the inductive element (T1) in a superconducting state.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Superconducting magnet engine

Life of this patent

Superconducting magnet engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20