A superconductor connector assembly and methods of assembly and disassembly

A superconductor connector assembly for electrically connecting a first superconductor cable and a second superconductor cable, the superconductor connector assembly comprising:

• at least one first superconducting cable terminal, the first superconducting cable terminal comprising at least one first opening for receiving an end of the first superconductor cable;
• at least one second superconducting cable terminal, the second superconducting cable terminal comprising at least one second opening for receiving an end of the second superconductor cable;
• and
• a surrounding part that is configured to receive and surround the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal, wherein the first and second openings overlap when the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal are received in the surrounding part, and
• wherein the surrounding part is made from a material that has a thermal expansion coefficient different from a thermal expansion coefficient of the first and second superconducting cable terminals such that the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal are compressed together and form an electrical interface at an operating temperature of the superconductor connector assembly.

A method of assembling a superconductor connector assembly to electrically connect a first superconductor cable and a second superconductor cable, the superconductor connector comprising:

• at least one first superconducting cable terminal, the first superconducting cable terminal comprising at least one first opening for receiving an end of the first superconductor cable;
• at least one second superconducting cable terminal, the second superconducting cable terminal comprising at least one second opening for receiving an end of the second superconductor cable;
• and
• a surrounding part that is configured to receive and surround the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal, wherein the surrounding part is made from a material that has a thermal expansion coefficient different from a thermal expansion coefficient of the first and second superconducting cable terminals,
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• inserting the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal into the surrounding part such that the first and second openings overlap;
• and
• cryogenically cooling the superconductor connector assembly such that the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal are compressed together and form an electrical interface at an operating temperature of the superconductor connector assembly.

A method of disassembling a superconductor connector assembly to electrically disconnect a first superconductor cable and a second superconductor cable, the superconductor connector comprising:

• at least one first superconducting cable terminal, the first superconducting cable terminal comprising at least one first opening for receiving an end of the first superconductor cable;
• at least one second superconducting cable terminal, the second superconducting cable terminal comprising at least one second opening for receiving an end of the second superconductor cable;
• and
• a surrounding part that receives and surrounds the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal such that the first and second openings overlap, wherein the surrounding part is made from a material that has a thermal expansion coefficient different from a thermal expansion coefficient of the first and second superconducting cable terminals such that the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal are compressed together and form an electrical interface at an operating temperature of the superconductor connector assembly,
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• raising the temperature of the superconductor connector assembly from the operating temperature such that the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal are decompressed;
• and
• loosening at least one of the first superconducting cable terminal and the second superconducting cable terminal from the surrounding part.