Low alternating current (AC) loss superconducting coils

• US 6,794,970 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGC Superpower Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IGC Superpower Incorporated
• Inventors: Reis, Chandra T., Walker, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rojas, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US10/381,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20030178653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 335/216, 174/125.1
• US Class Current: 335/216
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 6/06 Coils, e.g. winding, insulating, terminating or casing arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to high-temperature low alternating current (AC) loss superconducting coil (110A-C), to methods of fabricating such superconducting coils (110A-C) and to devices which utilize high temperature superconductor [HTS] tape coils such as transformer, motors, generators, etc.

Claims

1. A low alternating current loss superconducting coil comprising a plurality of superconductor tapes, a portion of such tapes being individually positioned in a first layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with such axis, gaps being present between the superconductive material in adjacent tapes of such first layer, and at least one second layer formed of a portion of such plurality of tapes each individually positioned in a second layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with such axis, gaps being present between superconductive material in adjacent tapes of the at least one second layer, the superconductive material of the at least one second layer overlapping the gaps in the first layer.

2. A low alternating current loss superconducting coil as in claim 1, wherein the first layer and at least one second layers are mostly circular in cross section and concentric, the at least one second layer having superconductive material that collectively entirely overlaps the gaps in said first layer.

3. A superconducting coil as in claim 2, wherein the tapes are at least flat in cross section.

4. A low alternating current loss superconducting coil, comprising a plurality of superconductor tapes, each tape being individually positioned in a first layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with said axis, each tape in being located between two immediately adjacent tapes, one lateral edge of each tape underlapping one associated adjacent tape and the other lateral edge of each said tape overlapping the other associated adjacent tape, such that at least a minor portion of the superconductive part of the superconductor tape under or overlaps an associated adjacent tape.

5. A superconducting coil as in claim 4, wherein said lapped tapes provide a continuous circumferential loop of superconducting material around said axis.

6. A low alternating current loss producing superconductor coil comprising HTS superconducting tape wrapped in a gap free lapped configuration on an annular substrate.

7. A method of preparing a low alternating current loss superconducting coil comprising wrapping a cylindrical former section with at least one superconductor, such superconductor being positioned around the longitudinal axis of such former such that at least 1% of each winding of such superconductor around such former overlaps an associated adjacent winding.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the superconductor overlaps at least 75%.

9. A method of fabricating low current loss superconducting coils comprising winding a coil of superconducting tape around a former, where the superconducting coil comprises a plurality of superconductor tapes,

individually positioning each tape in a first layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with said axis,

locating each tape between two immediately adjacent tapes, one lateral edge of each tape underlapping one associated adjacent tape and the other lateral edge of each said tape overlapping the other associated adjacent tape, such that at least a minor portion of the superconductive part of the superconductor tape under or overlaps an associated adjacent tape.

10. An alternate current handling electrical device containing a low alternating current loss superconducting coil, such coil comprising a plurality of superconductor tapes, each tape being individually positioned in a first layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with said axis, each tape in being located between two immediately adjacent tapes, one lateral edge of each tape underlapping one associated adjacent tape and the other lateral edge of each said tape overlapping the other associated adjacent tape, such that at least a minor portion of the superconductive part of the superconductor tape under or overlaps an associated adjacent tape.

11. The device of claim 10 that is selected from the group consisting of transformers, fault current limiters, electric motors, generators, and alternators.

12. An alternate current handling electrical device containing a low alternating current loss superconducting coil, such coil comprising a plurality of superconductor tapes, a portion of such tapes being individually positioned in a first layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with such axis, gaps being present between the superconductive material in adjacent tapes of such first layer, and at least one second layer formed of a portion of such plurality of tapes each individually positioned in a second layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with such axis, gaps being present between superconductive material in adjacent tapes of the at least one second layer, the superconductive material of the at least one second layer overlapping the gaps in the first layer.

13. The device of claim 12 that is selected from the group consisting of transformers, fault current limiters, electric motors, generators, and alternators.

14. A low alternating current loss superconducting coil comprising a plurality of superconductor tapes, where

a portion of such tapes is individually positioned in a first layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with such axis, gaps being present between the superconductive material in adjacent tapes of such first layer, and at least one second layer is formed of a portion of such plurality of tapes each individually positioned in a second layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with such axis, gaps being present between superconductive material in adjacent tapes of the at least one second layer, the superconductive material of the at least one second layer overlapping the gaps in the first layer, or

each tape is individually positioned in a first layer around a longitudinal axis and extending longitudinally with said axis, each tape being located between two immediately adjacent tapes, one lateral edge of each tape underlapping one associated adjacent tape and the other lateral edge of each said tape overlapping the other associated adjacent tape, such that at least a minor portion of the superconductive part of the superconductor tape under or overlaps an associated adjacent tape.

15. The coil of claim 14 wherein the superconducting tape is selected from a member of the group consisting of cuprate based, diboride based and metallic superconducting tapes.

16. The coil of claim 14 wherein the superconducting tape is a tape selected from the group consisting of monocore, multifilament, thin film, thick film, powder-in-tube and surface-coated superconducting tapes.

17. The coil of claim 14 wherein the superconducting tape is a tape selected from the group consisting of elliptical, and rectangular superconducting tapes.

18. The coil of claim 14 wherein the superconducting tape has a thickness of from about 0.001 mm to about 10 mm thick.