Design of a termination for a high temperature superconducting power cable

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 1273 - 1276
• Main Authors: Rasmussen, C., Kuhle, A., Tonnesen, O., Rasmussen, C.N.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-06-1999; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cable insulation; Cables; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Conductors; Conductors (devices); Cooling; Cryogenic temperature; Cuprates superconductors (high tc and insulating parent compounds); Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Electric connection. Cables. Wiring; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Exact sciences and technology; High temperature superconductors; High voltages; Land surface temperature; Liquid nitrogen; Nitrogen; Physics; Superconducting cables; Superconducting films; Superconducting tapes; Superconductivity; Thermal conductivity; Various equipment and components; Design; Forming by bending; Thermal insulation; Cooling system; Termination; Superconducting cable; Experimental study; High temperature superconductor
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/77.783533

A cable conductor consisting of superconducting tapes wound onto a tight flexible tube (former) is placed inside a thermally insulating jacket (cryostat). This assembly is electrically insulated with an extruded polymer dielectric kept at room temperature. Cooling is provided by a flow of liquid nitrogen inside the former. The purpose of an end termination is to connect the superconducting cable conductor at cryogenic temperature to an electrical wire at room temperature and an external cooling machine at ground potential. Here we describe the design and construction of such an end termination. Aspects considered in the design include the thermal insulation of the termination, the transition from superconducting tapes to a normal conductor, the current lead carrying current between high and low temperatures, the transfer of liquid nitrogen over a high voltage drop and that of providing a well defined atmosphere inside the termination and around the cable conductor.