Low resistance conductors, processes of production thereof, and electrical members using same

• US 20030213611A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
• Inventors: Morita, Mitsuru
• Granted Patent: US 7,126,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/126.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 12/02 characterised by their form
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 12/04 Single wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 6/06 Coils, e.g. winding, insulating, terminating or casing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/06 Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 60/203 comprising high-Tc ceramic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 60/80 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/60 Superconducting electric elements or equipment; Power systems integrating superconducting elements or equipment

Abstract

A conductor obtained by connecting a plurality of superconductors by normal conductivity or a conductor comprised of superconductors and normal conductors, said low resistance conductor using superconductors characterized in that an apparent specific resistance of said conductor at below a superconducting transition temperature of said superconductors is lower than the specific resistance of copper at that superconducting transition temperature.

Claims

1. A low resistance conductor using superconductors comprised of a plurality of superconductors connected by normal conductivity, said conductor characterized in that an apparent specific resistance of said conductor below a superconducting transition temperature of said superconductors is lower than a specific resistance of copper at said superconducting transition temperature.

2. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor is a wire-shaped and/or bar-shaped conductor comprised of a plurality of superconductors connected by normal conductivity two-dimensionally.

3. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor is a plate-shaped and/or block-shaped conductor comprised of a plurality of superconductors connected by normal conductivity three-dimensionally.

7. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein part or all of said plurality of superconductors are bulk superconductors.

8. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 7, wherein part or all of said plurality of bulk superconductors have bar or plate shapes.

9. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 7 or 8, wherein part of said plurality of bulk superconductors have curved and/or bent bar or plate shapes.

10. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein part or all of said bulk superconductors are REBa₂Cu₃O₇₋

x based superconductors (where, RE is one type or a combination of types of rare earth elements including Y).

11. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 10, wherein a longitudinal direction of said bulk superconductor is a direction perpendicular to a c-axis in the crystal orientation of said superconductor.

12. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein part or all of the normal conductivity connections of said plurality of superconductors are joints between faces substantially perpendicular and/or faces substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of adjoining superconductors.

13. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 12, wherein a plurality of layers of superconductors are arranged so as to cover normal conductivity connections of said superconductors in the longitudinal direction.

14. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 12 or 13, wherein part or all of said normal conductivity connections are joints between adjoining superconductors through a metal.

15. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 14, wherein said metal is one or more of copper, a copper alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, a gold alloy, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy.

16. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 14 or 15, wherein a thickness of said metal is not more than 100 μ

m.

17. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein part or all of a longitudinal direction of said superconductors is a current carrying direction.

18. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein a distance between said superconductors is not more than 10 mm.

24. A current carrying member or current lead characterized by arranging at least at part of the same a low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 18.

25. A current carrying member or current lead as set forth in claim 24, wherein the two ends of said low resistance conductor are connected to electrodes comprised of copper, aluminum, gold, silver, or an alloy of the same.

26. A power feed cable characterized by arranging at least at part of the same a current carrying member or current lead as set forth in claim 24 or 25.

27. A power feed cable characterized by arranging a current carrying member or current lead as set forth in claim 24 or 25 in the middle of a space in a double pipe or higher multiwall pipe, providing a space through which a coolant can flow around the same, and providing a heat insulating layer at its outer circumference.

28. A power feed cable as set forth in claim 26, electrically connecting electrodes connected to said current carrying member or current lead and covering said connecting electrode portions by a vacuum heat insulating layer.

29. A coil characterized by being formed by winding a low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in one of claims 1 to 18.

30. A coil as set forth in claim 29, wherein a sectional area of a face of said wound low resistance conductor perpendicular to a current carrying direction is larger at the inner circumference than the outer circumference.

31. A coil as set forth in claim 29, wherein the superconductors of said wound low resistance conductor are a combination of superconductors having different rare earth compositions.

32. A coil as set forth in any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein gaps in said wound low temperature conductor are used as coolant channels.

33. A coil as set forth in any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein said wound low resistance conductor is reinforced by a resin and/or fiber-reinforced plastic.

34. A magnetic field generating apparatus characterized by using a coil as set forth in any one of claims 29 to 33.

35. A transformer characterized by using a coil as set forth in any one of claims 29 to 33 at least at a secondary side.

36. An AC power source characterized by using a coil as set forth in any one of claims 29 to 33 at least at a secondary side.

4. A low resistance conductor using superconductors comprised of a plurality of superconductors connected by normal conductivity, said conductor characterized in that an apparent specific resistance of said conductor at 77K is lower than a specific resistance of copper at 77K.

5. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 4, wherein said conductor is a wire-shaped and/or bar-shaped conductor comprised of a plurality of superconductors connected by normal conductivity two-dimensionally.

6. A low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 4, wherein said conductor is a plate-shaped and/or block-shaped conductor comprised of a plurality of superconductors connected by normal conductivity three-dimensionally.

19. A process of production of a low resistance conductor characterized by arranging a plurality of superconductors through normal conductors and connecting them while applying pressure if necessary.

20. A process of production of a low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 19 further comprising connecting said superconductors using solder.

22. A process of production of a low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 19 or 21, further comprising connecting said superconductors using a paste or foil of copper, a copper alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, a gold alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy and suitably thereafter heat treating them same.

23. A process of production of a low resistance conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 19 to 22, further comprising forming on the surface of said superconductors a coating of one or more of copper, a copper alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, a gold alloy, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy.

21. A process of production of a low resistance conductor characterized by arranging a plurality of superconductors through normal conductors, applying pressure if necessary, then heat treating them in a reduced pressure atmosphere or a vacuum.

37. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors obtained by connecting at least one superconductor to part or all of a surface of a normal conductivity conductor, characterized in that an apparent specific resistance of said composite conductor below a superconducting transition temperature of said superconductor is lower than a specific resistance of copper at that superconducting transition temperature.

39. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 37 or 38, wherein said-normal conductivity conductor is a metal.

40. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 39, wherein said metal is one or more types of copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, or a gold alloy.

41. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 37 or 38, wherein part or all of said superconductors are bulk superconductors.

42. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 41, wherein part or all of said bulk superconductors are REBa₂Cu₃O₇₋

x based superconductors (where, RE is one type or a combination of types of rare earth elements including Y).

43. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 42, wherein a longitudinal direction of part or all of said bulk superconductor is a direction perpendicular to a c-axis in a crystal orientation of said superconductors.

44. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 37 to 43, wherein at least one of said normal conductivity conductor or superconductor has a bar shape or plate shape.

45. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 37 or 38, wherein part or all of said connections are normal conductivity connections.

46. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 45, wherein part or all of at least one of said superconductor or said normal conductivity conductor has a plane and said superconductor and said normal conductivity conductor are connected by normal conductivity in said plane.

47. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 45 or 46, wherein part or all of said normal conductivity connections use the same or different normal conductor as said normal conductivity conductor.

48. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 45 to 47, wherein part or all of said normal conductivity connections are through a metal.

49. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in claim 48, wherein said metal is one or more of copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, and a gold alloy.

50. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 45 to 49, wherein a thickness of said connections is not more than 100 μ

m.

51. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors as set forth in any one of claims 37 to 50, wherein part or all of a longitudinal direction of said superconductors is a current carrying direction.

57. A current carrying member or current lead characterized by arranging at least at part of the same a low resistance composite conductor as set forth in any one of claims 37 to 50.

58. A superconductor transformer or magnetic field generating apparatus characterized by having a current carrying member or current lead as set forth in claim 57.

38. A low resistance composite conductor using superconductors obtained by connecting at least one superconductor to part or all of a surface of a normal conductivity conductor, characterized in that an apparent specific resistance of said composite conductor at 77K is lower than a specific resistance of copper at 77K.

52. A process of production of a low resistance composite conductor characterized by arranging at part or all of the surface of a normal conductivity conductor a superconductor through a normal conductor and connecting them while applying pressure if necessary.

53. A process of production of a low resistance composite conductor as set forth in claim 52 wherein said normal conductor is solder.

55. A process of production of a low resistance composite conductor as set forth in claim 52 or 54, wherein said normal conductivity conductor is a paste or foil of copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, or a gold alloy.

56. A process of production of a low resistance composite conductor as set forth in any one of claims 52 to 55, further comprising forming on the surface of said superconductor a coating of one or more of copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, silver, a silver alloy, gold, or a gold alloy.

54. A process of production of a low resistance composite conductor characterized by arranging at part or all of the surface of a normal conductivity conductor a superconductor through a normal conductor, applying pressure if necessary, then heat treating them in a reduced pressure atmosphere or a vacuum.