Ceramic superconducting downlead
OwnerWilliam N. Lawlessinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical conductor particularly suited for use as a downlead to low temperature devices includes a ceramic honeycomb body having longitudinal channels wherein films of substantially single crystals of a ceramic superconductor are grown. The maximum current carrying capacity of the ceramic superconductor may be oriented parallel to the channels. Square channels arranged in alternating rows of oppositely directed current provide desirable magnetic field cancellations and permit high current flows. A method for making the electrical conductor and a method of extruding the ceramic honeycomb body are also disclosed.
Claims48
An electrical conductor for use as a downlead to devices operating at low temperatures comprising:
- a ceramic honeycomb body having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed therethrough by longitudinal walls;
- and
- at least one film of a ceramic superconductor material disposed on at least one surface of at least one of said longitudinal channels, said at least one film extending substantially the length of said one of said longitudinal channels;
- wherein the materials of said ceramic honeycomb body and said ceramic superconductor material are different;
- and
- wherein the crystal lattice of said ceramic honeycomb body and the crystal lattice of said ceramic superconductor material substantially match, and at least portions of said respective crystal lattices are in substantial alignment.
An electrical conductor for use as a downlead to devices operating at low temperatures comprising a ceramic honeycomb body having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed therethrough by longitudinal walls:
- wherein at least two of said plurality of longitudinal channels each include at least one film of a ceramic superconductor material on at least one surface thereof extending substantially the length of the longitudinal channel;
- and
- wherein at least one film is adapted for carrying positive current and another film is adapted for carrying negative current in said longitudinal channels, and said positive and negative current is distributed in said films such that the net effect of magnetic fields generated by said positive and negative currents in said films permit substantially at least one half of said films to remain substantially superconducting by virtue of the partial or full cancellation of self-induced magnetic fields.
An electrical conductor for use as a downlead to devices operating at low temperatures comprising:
- a ceramic honeycomb body having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed therethrough by longitudinal walls, wherein:
- said ceramic honeycomb body is comprised of ceramic superconductor material;
- and
- wherein ones of said longitudinal channels are adapted to carry positive electrical current and others of said longitudinal channels are adapted to carry negative electrical current in the surfaces thereof, and said positive and negative current is distributed in a pattern of alternating rows of said longitudinal channels so that consecutive ones of said rows carry oppositely directed current;
- and
- means for connecting said ceramic honeycomb body to a source of electrical current.
An electrical conductor for use as a downlead to devices operating at low temperatures comprising a body including a plurality of superconducting current carrying elements disposed therein substantially in a honeycomb pattern, said current carrying elements disposed in generally parallel, spaced relationship, and extending substantially the length of said body;
- wherein at least one group of said current carrying elements is adapted to carry positive current and another group of said current carrying elements is adapted to carry negative current, and said positive and negative current is distributed in said current carrying elements such that the self-induced magnetic fields generated by said positive and negative currents in said current carrying elements permit at least a portion of said current carrying elements to remain substantially superconducting by virtue of at least the partial cancellation of said self-induced magnetic fields.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.