Blocks-in-conduit cable using high-temperature superconducting tape
AssigneesThe Texas A&M University System, Accelerator Technology Corp.
InventorsPeter McIntyre, John Scott Rogers
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Abstract
A design is presented for a structured cable suitable for carrying a large electric current in a cable-in-conduit comprising an assembly of rectangular stacks of thin superconducting tapes, with provisions for mechanical support of large mechanical stress and cross-flow of cooling fluid capable of removing large amounts of heat.
Claims19
A sub-cable comprising a multiplicity of copper-clad superconducting tapes comprising superconductor Rare-Earth Barium Copper Oxide (REBCO) tapes stacked face-face such that the faces are in contact, further comprising a laminar spring contacting the outermost face of the sub-cable, the laminar spring comprising two strips of high-strength spring-tempered metal alloy that form an arched spring and are welded to one another along their common edges to provide a compliant spring action over a range of compression.
A lamination-stack core for carrying electric current, the structured cable comprising
- a plurality of copper laminations is fabricated with channels on the outside to accommodate a multiplicity of sub-cables;
- features on the perimeter to facilitate orientation of all laminations so that the channels are aligned to accommodate insertion of a sub-cable;
- a center hole to provide a flow path for cryogen cooling;
- and
- insertion of a spring-loaded sub-cable into each of the channels such that the laminar spring is partially compressed when the cable is subsequently inserted into a cylindrical sheath and compressed.
A blocks-in-conduit (BIC) cable, comprising a lamination-stack core that is twisted about its axis with a twist pitch length L wherein the cable is inserted as a loose fit inside a perforated sheath tube of high-strength metal alloy, and further wherein the perforated sheath tube is drawn down onto the twisted cable such that the sheath tube compresses the laminar springs and locks the configuration of a plurality of laminations and tape conductors within the cable.
An armored BIC winding comprising:
- an armor clamshell with its half-round interior facing outwards;
- a BIC cable;
- and
- a second armor clamshell with half-round interior facing inwards, wherein the armored BIC is wound onto a mandrel.
A method of making a co-wound armored cable for handling large mechanical stress and high magnetic field, the method comprising winding two armor clamshells and a BIC cable to form the co-wound armored cable,
- wherein each armor clamshell comprises an open half-cylindrical channel;
- and
- wherein a diameter of each half-cylindrical channel is equal to a diameter of the structured cable plus a radial allowance to accommodate a wrap of shear-release mica paper separating the structured cable from the two armor clamshells for the purpose of releasing shear stress.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.