Cryogenic refrigeration system for HTS cables

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 1798 - 1801
• Main Authors: Lee, R.C., Dada, A., Ringo, S.M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-06-2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cables; Commercialization; Costs; Cryogenic refrigeration; Cryogenics; Design engineering; Design. Technologies. Operation analysis. Testing; Electric connection. Cables. Wiring; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Heat exchangers; high temperature superconductivity; High temperature superconductors; Infrastructure; Integrated circuits; Miscellaneous; Onsite; Operating temperature; Power grids; Power networks and lines; Refrigeration; Remote monitoring; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Superconducting cables; Superconducting transmission lines; Superconductivity; System testing; Various equipment and components; Thermal management (packaging); Remote operation; Cryogenic refrigeration; High temperature; high temperature superconductivity; Cryogenic temperature; Closed cycle; Refrigeration cycle; Electrical network; Power distribution; Heat exchanger; Cryogenics; Cooling system; superconducting cables; Superconducting cable; Reliability; Refrigeration; High temperature superconductor
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2005.849291

The cost and reliability of cryogenic refrigeration is key to successful commercialization of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cables. This paper describes the design and initial test results of the Cryogenic Refrigeration System (CRS) that will be used in the 350 m HTS cable demonstration at Albany NY. The 34.5 kV/800 A HTS cable will be installed in the distribution power grid of Niagara Mohawk. The CRS will provide a nominal 6 kW closed cycle refrigeration at 77 K, and will have a lower operating temperature of 66 K. The CRS has a core heat exchanger that will accept any mechanical refrigeration unit (cryocooler), and is designed to provide unlimited back-up refrigeration capability. Following the completion of the testing reported in this paper, the CRS will be installed and commissioned at the Albany site beginning late 2004. Once onsite, the CRS will be continuously monitored throughout the HTS cable demonstration using BOC's remote operations infrastructure.