Superconductor manufacturing process
AssigneeAlsthom-Atlantique
InventorPatrick Dubots
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A superconductor manufacturing process provides electrical insulation and enhanced transverse electrical resistivity of multifilament superconductor strands based on Nb.sub.3 Sn. The process includes forming, during the early manufacturing steps in which the product is relatively short and of large cross section, resistive barriers around bundles of filaments in an oxide powder doped with conductive materials. In subsequent steps, an electrically insulative powder is used to insulate between a copper tube surrounding the bundles of filaments and an outer resistive ring or to insulate around multifilament strands.
Claims28
A process for manufacturing a superconductor, the process having the following sequential steps:
- (a) placing a bar of a first metal in a matrix of at least a second and a third metal material, said second metal material being capable of combining, when heated, with the first metal to form a superconductor;
- (b) working the bar and matrix together to form a rod having a hexagonal cross section;
- (c) packing a plurality of said rods into a bronze tube;
- (d) repeatedly drawing the assembly of the preceding step to form a multifilament strand having a reduced cross section and increased length;
- (e) arranging the multifilament strand into a desired configuration;
- (f) heating the strand in the desired configuration to a temperature at which the first metal combines with the second metal material to form a superconductor, wherein the improvement comprises:
- between steps (c) and (d) surrounding said bronze tube with a resistive tube and
- disposing between the bronze tube and the resistive tube an electrically insulating refractory powder that is not soluble in the material of either tube.
A process for manufacturing a superconductor, the process having the following sequential steps:
- (a) placing a bar of a first metal in a matrix of at least a second and a third metal material, said second metal material being capable of combining, when heated, with the first metal to form a superconductor;
- (b) working the bar and matrix together to form a rod having a hexagonal cross section;
- (c) packing a plurality of said rods into a bronze tube;
- (d) repeatedly drawing the assembly of the preceding step to form a multifilament strand having a reduced cross section and increased length;
- (e) coating the multifilament strand with an insulative sheath;
- (f) placing a plurality of said sheathed strands together to form a multistrand conductor;
- (g) arranging the multifilament conductor into a desired configuration;
- (h) heating the conductor in the desired configuration to a temperature at which the first metal combines with the one element to form a superconductor, wherein the improvement comprises:
- between steps (c) and (d) surrounding said bronze tube with a resistive tube and
- disposing between the bronze tube and the resistive tube an electrically insulating refractory powder that is not soluble in the material of either tube.
A process for manufacturing a superconductor, the process having the following sequential steps:
- (a) placing a bar of a first metal in a matrix of at least a second and a third metal material, said second metal marterial being capable of combining, when heated, with the first metal to form a superconductor;
- (b) working the bar and matrix together to form a rod having a hexagonal cross section;
- (c) packing a plurality of said rods into a bronze tube;
- (d) repeatedly drawing the assembly of the preceding step to form a multifilament strand having a reduced cross section and increased length;
- (e) arranging the multifilament strand into a desired configuration;
- (f) heating the strand in the desired configuration to a temperature at which the first metal combines with the second metal material to form a superconductor, wherein the improvement comprises:
- step (c) includes disposing a resistive barrier material between the packed rods to reduce spurious induced currents in the finished superconductor, the resistive barrier material comprising an oxide powder doped with a conductive substance.
A process for manufacturing a superconductor, the process having the following sequential steps:
- (a) placing a bar of a first metal in a matrix of at least a second and a third metal material, said second metal material being capable of combining, when heated, with the first metal to form a superconductor;
- (b) working the bar and matrix together to form a rod having a hexagonal cross section;
- (c) packing a plurality of said rods into a bronze tube;
- (d) repeatedly drawing the assembly of the preceding step to form a multifilament strand having a reduced cross section and increased length;
- (e) coating the multifilament strand with an insulative sheath;
- (f) placing a plurality of said sheathed strands together to form a multistrand conductor;
- (g) arranging the multifilament conductor into a desired configuration;
- (h) heating the conductor in the desired configuration to a temperature at which the first metal combines with the one element to form a superconductor, wherein the improvement comprises:
- step (c) includes disposing a resistive barrier material between the packed rods to reduce spurious induced currents in the finished superconductor, the resistive barrier material comprising an oxide powder doped with a conductive substance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.