Search Results (47)

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) technologies continue to advance as promising solutions for large-capacity rotating electrical machinery. However, the cryogenic architecture required to maintain superconducting states remains a critical design challenge, particularly for performance evaluation systems (PESs). Conventional helium–neon (He–Ne) circulation-based cooling enables stable low-temperature operation and has been experimentally validated in previous PES implementations, but it introduces substantial limitations due to installation complexity, flow-induced instability, and limited adaptability to different coil configurations. To address these constraints, this study proposes a conduction-cooled PES architecture optimized for HTS field coil testing and examines its thermal and structural characteristics through comprehensive design and finite element method (FEM)-based analysis. A multi-stage conduction cooling pathway using a cryocooler, thermal straps, and copper heat plates was designed to achieve uniform temperature distribution and reduce thermal gradients across the HTS winding. Three-dimensional FEM simulations were performed to evaluate the steady-state temperature distribution and heat-transfer characteristics of the proposed conduction-cooled PES under representative thermal load conditions, and the predicted cooling performance was comparatively assessed against the He–Ne cooled PES. The conduction-cooled PES was analyzed by comparing its predicted performance with previously obtained experimental results from the He–Ne cooled PES. The proposed conduction cooling architecture achieved a significant reduction in total heat load, decreasing from 177 W in the He–Ne system to approximately 78 W in the conduction-cooled configuration while also improving thermal efficiency and simplifying system integration. In addition, conduction cooling enhances compatibility with a wider range of HTS coil geometries by eliminating the constraints associated with fluid-based circulation. While the proposed conduction-cooled PES has not yet been physically fabricated, the numerical framework was established based on experimentally confirmed operating conditions of the previously implemented He–Ne-cooled PES, and future work will include fabrication and experimental validation of the conduction-cooled configuration. These findings demonstrate that conduction cooling represents a practical and scalable alternative for next-generation PES platforms and provide essential design guidelines for the development of high-field HTS coils and large-capacity superconducting rotating machines. Full article

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) conductor on round core (CORC) cables possess the combined features of high current-carrying capacity, strong mechanical properties, and excellent isotropic flexibility. The current relative research on the electromagnetic properties of straight CORC cables has been exceedingly mature. In high-field magnets, CORC cables are typically bent into coils to meet the compactness requirement. Evaluating the bending characteristics of CORC cables, particularly their post-bending electromagnetic properties, holds great scientific significance. In this paper, CORC cables with different sizes of central formers were fabricated to explore the impacts of the bending process and strain on their transport AC loss characteristics. A mapping method was proposed to couple mechanical and electromagnetic models. Results show that the cable sample with a 4 mm outer diameter of the central former exhibits a superior bending characteristic. The bending process on the transport AC loss of CORC cable lies in the redistribution of the magnetic field, while strain mainly affects AC loss by leading to local critical current (Ic) degradation. CORC cables with small bending diameters require electromagnetic–mechanical-coupling simulation to predict their electromagnetic characteristics accurately. Conclusions drawn from this paper will provide invaluable guidance for the fabrication of bent CORC cables. Full article

Wounded with second-generation (2G) high temperature superconductors (HTS) tapes, the conductor on round core (CORC) coil exhibits notable benefits such as low AC loss, powerful current-carrying capability, and great mechanical properties, which makes it one of the optimal materials for high magnetic field generation in the engineering applications for fusion magnets. However, it is challenging for current manufacturing techniques to ensure the uniformity among the joint resistances of HTS tapes in CORC coils. And it will have a crucial impact on the electro-magnetic properties of CORC coils. Therefore, a three-dimension (3D) finite element model of CORC coils considering joint resistance is established, and the effects of joint resistance on the coils’ current distribution and AC losses are analyzed. Results show that during AC operation, uneven joint resistances and reactance arising from the coils’ helical winding structure will act together on the current among HTS tapes, causing non-uniform current distribution and increasing the total AC losses of CORC coils. Additionally, the uneven degree of the joint resistance raises the CORC coil’s overall AC loss. Full article

High-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnet systems, especially those designed for fusion reactors, require effective and reliable monitoring to avoid damaging anomalies. In tokamaks, some of the magnetic coils are time-dependent, which causes strain and large inductive voltages within the magnet, rendering detection of incipient quench challenging. Ionizing radiation can also create material defects and lead to non-uniform degradation of conductors. The resulting decrease in critical current uniformity across the magnet, along with manufacturing defects, such as failure of structural materials or cooling systems, can all potentially initiate a quench. HTS magnets have a lower normal zone propagation velocity than low-temperature superconductors, and this causes normal zones to be localized, increasing the risk of permanent damage. Fiber optic sensors have several qualities that are essential in fusion systems. Unlike traditional voltage-based sensors, fiber optic cables are immune to the large electromagnetic fields present. This study presents and validates a fiber optic interrogation technique for monitoring magnetic confinement fusion and other high-temperature superconducting magnet systems. Coherent-phase optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) allows for the high sampling rates (tens of kHz) necessary to quickly detect and mitigate quench events over the long distances required to monitor fusion magnet systems. This technique was demonstrated to successfully detect localized thermal transients at cryogenic temperatures as low as 6 K. These outcomes were also demonstrated using fibers embedded in HTS magnet coils at 77 K, verifying the potential for this interrogation technique’s use for failure detection in HTS coils. Full article

In this study, real-scale high-temperature superconducting (HTS) field coils for a 10 MW class rotating machine were designed, fabricated, and experimentally evaluated. The aim was to propose a cost-effective winding strategy by combining two types of HTS wires with different angular dependencies of critical current. The 3D FEM simulations were performed to determine the coil layout by considering the magnetic field magnitude and incidence angle. Based on this design, two HTS field coils were fabricated, one wound with two different types of wire and the other with a single wire type. For application to an actual HTS generator, the coil was equipped with an iron core to evaluate its influence on critical current and magnetic field distribution. Experimental results at 77 K showed that the coil combined with two types of HTS wire achieved 112 A without the core and 105 A with the core, while the single-wire coil reached 101 A and 93 A, respectively. The measured results showed good agreement with the simulations, with deviations within 3.7% for the combined-wire coil and 1.9% for the coil equipped with the iron core. These findings indicate that the proposed winding method can maintain high performance while lowering material cost, providing useful guidelines for the design of large-scale HTS rotating machines. Full article

The no-insulation (NI) technique improves the stability and defect-tolerance of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils by enabling current redistribution, thereby reducing the risk of quenching. NI–HTS coils are widely applied in DC systems such as high-field magnets and superconducting field coils for electric machines. However, the presence of turn-to-turn contact resistance makes current distribution uneven, rendering traditional simulation methods unsuitable. To address this, a finite element method (FEM) based on the T–A formulation is proposed. This model solves coupled equations for the magnetic vector potential (A) and current vector potential (T), incorporating turn-to-turn contact resistance and anisotropic conductivity. The thin-strip approximation simplifies second-generation HTS materials as one-dimensional conductors, and a homogenization technique further reduces computational time by averaging the properties between turns, although it may limit the resolution of localized inter-turn effects. To verify the model’s accuracy, simulation results are compared against the H formulation, distributed circuit network (DCN) model, and experimental data. The proposed T–A model accurately reproduces key transient characteristics, including magnetic field evolution and radial current distribution, in both circular and racetrack NI coils. These results confirm the model’s potential as an efficient and reliable tool for transient electromagnetic analysis of NI–HTS coils. Full article

A performance evaluation system (PES) can experimentally test the structural stability and magnetic field effects of HTS coils against high magnetic fields and electromagnetic forces before mounting the HTS coils on a large-capacity rotating machine. This paper deals with the characteristic analysis of electromagnetic force in an HTS field coil for a 10 MW Class HTS Wind Power Generator using PES. Based on the designed 10 MW class HTS wind power generator, the HTS coils are manufactured and installed in the PES by a support structure, which is designed considering the electromagnetic force (torque) and heat loads in the HTS coil. To check the stress and deformation in the support structure caused by the electromagnetic force generated from the coil, strain gauge sensors were attached to the support structure and measured under full-load conditions. As a result, the maximum magnetic field and electromagnetic force are 2.8 T and 71 kN, respectively. Compared to the analysis results, the magnetic field and generated electromagnetic force in the HTS coil were the same under no-load and full-load conditions. These results will be effectively used to study and fabricate high magnetic field coils for HTS applications, as well as the PES being fabricated. Full article

At present, HTS magnets cannot operate in the real closed-loop persistent current mode due to the existence of joint resistance, flux creep, and AC loss of the HTS tape. Instead of using a current source, HTS flux pumps are capable of injecting flux into closed HTS magnets without electrical contact. This paper presents a practical superconducting DC dynamo for charging a conduction-cooled HTS magnet system based on a flux-pumping technique. To minimize heat losses, the rotor is driven by a servo motor mounted outside the vacuum dewar by utilizing magnetic fluid dynamic sealing. Different parameters, such as air gap and rotating speed, have been tested to investigate the best pumping effect, and finally, it successfully powers a 27.3 mH HTS non-insulated double-pancake coil to the current of 54.2 A within 76 min. As a low-cost and compact substitute for the traditional current source, the realization of a contactless DC power supply can significantly improve the flexibility and mobility of the HTS magnet system and could be of great significance for the technological innovation of future HTS magnets used in offshore wind turbines, biomedical, aerospace, etc. Full article

With the continuous advancement of science and technology, the application of high-temperature superconductivity has developed rapidly. The high-temperature superconducting (HTS) motor replacing the copper coil in the traditional motor with HTS winding is increasingly used in power equipment, and the effective thermal management of HTS winding is vital in ensuring the life and effective operation of the HTS motor. In this study, five enhancement structures of indirect oil cooling channels were designed to improve the heat dissipation capacity of the HTS motor winding, and the enhancement effects of the different structures were comprehensively evaluated through numerical simulation using Fluent software 2022R1. The best enhancement structure was selected through structural optimization. The results showed that the Nusselt number of the gap-type enhanced structure was higher than that of the V- and staggered-type structures at the same flow velocity and 68% higher than that of the bare pipe. At the same inlet flow velocity and with a pressure drop limit of 30 kPa, the performance evaluation criterion value of the gap-type structure was 39% and 63% higher than that of the staggered- and V-type structures, respectively. The gap type is the optimal enhancement structure and can effectively improve the heat dissipation of the HTS winding coil. Full article

Due to its exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, pure copper is frequently employed in industry as the base metal for thermal management and electromagnetic applications. The growing need for complicated and efficient motor designs has recently accelerated the development of copper additive manufacturing (AM). The present work aims to improve the power density of the copper laser powder bed fusion (Cu-LPBF) coil by increasing the slot-filling factor (SFF) and the electrical conductivity. Firstly, the dimensional limitation of Cu-LPBF fabricated parts was identified. Sample contouring and adjusting beam offset associated with optimum scan track morphology upgraded the minimum feature spacing to 80 μm. Accordingly, the printed winding’s slot-filling factor increased to 79% for square wire and 63% for round wire. A maximum electrical conductivity of 87% (IACS) was achieved by heat treatment (HT). The electrical impedance of full-size Cu-LPBF coils, newly reported in this study, was measured and compared with solid wire. It can reflect the performance of Cu-LPBF coils (power factor) in high-frequency applications. Furthermore, surface quality benefited from either sample contouring and HT, where the side surface roughness was lowered by 45% and an additional reduction of 25% after HT. Full article

In this paper, mechanical responses and electro-thermal characteristics of a rare earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) high-temperature superconducting (HTS) insulated pancake coil during the quenching process are investigated through finite element modeling (FEM). Firstly, a two-dimensional axisymmetric electro–magneto–thermal–mechanical FEM model with real dimensions is developed. Based on the FEM model, a systematic study on the effects of the time taken to trigger the system dump, background magnetic field, material properties of constituent layers, and coil size on quench behaviors of an HTS-insulated pancake coil is implemented. The variations in the temperature, current, and stress–strain in the REBCO pancake coil are studied. The results indicate that an increase in the time taken to trigger the system dump can increase the peak temperature of the hot spot but has no influence on the dissipation velocity. An apparent slope change of the radial strain rate is observed when the quench occurs regardless of the background field. During quench protection, the radial stress and strain reach their maximum values and then decrease as the temperature decreases. The axial background magnetic field has a significant influence on the radial stress. Measures to reduce peak stress and strain are also discussed, which indicates that increasing the thermal conductivity of the insulation layer, copper thickness, and inner coil radius can effectively reduce the radial stress and strain. Full article

Ensuring the energy transition in order to decrease CO₂ and volatile organic compounds emissions and improve the efficiency of energy processes requires the development of advanced materials and technologies for the electrical energy sector. The article reviews superconducting materials, functional nanomaterials used in the power industry mainly due to their magnetic, electrical, optical, and dielectric properties and the thin layers of amorphous carbon nitride, which properties make them an important material from the point of view of environmental protection, optoelectronic, photovoltaic and energy storage. The superconductivity-based technologies, material processing, and thermal and nonthermal plasma generation have been reviewed as technologies that can be a solution to chosen problems in the electrical energy sector and environment. The study explains directly both—the basics and application potential of low and high-temperature superconductors as well as peculiarities of the related manufacturing technologies for Roebel cables, 1G and 2G HTS tapes, and superconductor coil systems. Among the superconducting materials, particular attention was paid to the magnesium di-boride MgB₂ and its potential applications in the power industry. The benefits of the use of carbon films with amorphous structures in electronics, sensing technologies, solar cells, FETs, and memory devices were discussed. The article provides the information about most interesting, from the R&D point of view, groups of materials for PV applications. It summarises the advantages and disadvantages of their use regarding commercial requirements such as efficiency, lifetime, light absorption, impact on the environment, costs of production, and weather dependency. Silicon processing, inkjet printing, vacuum deposition, and evaporation technologies that allow obtaining improved and strengthened materials for solar cell manufacturing are also described. In the case of the widely developed plasma generation field, waste-to-hydrogen technology including both thermal and non-thermal plasma techniques has been discussed. The review aims to draw attention to the problems faced by the modern power industry and to encourage research in this area because many of these problems can only be solved within the framework of interdisciplinary and international cooperation. Full article

Magnetically coupled resonant wireless power transmission technology (WPT) based on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils has gained wide popularity due to its low impedance and high-quality factor Q value characteristics. This technology has greatly improved the energy transfer performance of wireless power transmission (WPT) systems. However, practical applications of conventional WPT, such as wireless charging of autonomous underwater vehicles at mooring points, often encounter spatial misalignment issues due to the complex ocean environment and ocean currents. Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the spatial misalignment of HTS WPT systems, particularly the angular misalignment. This paper presents a solution to address this problem by constructing magnetically coupled resonant wireless energy transmission systems based on HTS coils and copper coils. The study analyzes the relationship between the transmission efficiency of the WPT system and the received power of the load with respect to the spatial orientation of the coil. The performance of the superconducting coil and copper coil WPT systems is compared. The experimental results demonstrate that, under the same spatially misaligned conditions, the WPT system using HTS coils can significantly improve the transmission efficiency and load power compared to the conventional copper WPT system. Moreover, simultaneous adjustment of the lateral misalignment distance and different orientation deflection angles can improve the transmission efficiency and smooth load output power of the high-temperature superconducting WPT system. Full article

Many Lactobacillus casei strains are reported to exhibit anti-proliferative effects on colorectal cancer cells; however, the mechanism remains largely unknown. While there has been considerable interest in bacterial small metabolites such as short chain fatty acids, prior reports suggested that larger-sized molecules mediate the anti-proliferative effect of L. casei. Here, other possible ways of communication between gut bacteria and its host are investigated. LevH1 is a protein displayed on the surface of L. casei, and its mucin binding domain is highly conserved. Based on previous reports that the cell-free supernatant fractions decreased colorectal cell proliferation, we cloned the mucin binding domain of the LevH1 protein, expressed and purified this mucin binding protein (MucBP). It has a molecular weight of 10 kDa, is encoded by a 250 bp gene, and is composed primarily of a β-strand, β-turns, and random coils. The amino acid sequence is conserved while the 36th amino acid residue is arginine in L. casei CAUH35 and serine in L. casei IAM1045, LOCK919, 12A, and Zhang. MucBP^36R exhibited dose-dependent anti-proliferative effects against HT-29 cells while a mutation of 36S abolished this activity. Predicted structures suggest that this mutation slightly altered the protein structure, thus possibly affecting subsequent communication with HT-29 cells. Our study identified a novel mode of communication between gut bacteria and their host. Full article

In line with global environmental regulations, the demand for eco-friendly and highly efficient aircraft propulsion systems is increasing. The combination of axial flux motors and superconductors could be a key technology used to address these needs. In this paper, an axial flux high temperature superconducting (HTS) motor for aircraft propulsion was designed and its characteristics were analyzed. A 2G HTS wire with high magnetic flux characteristic was used for the field winding of the 120 kW axial flux HTS motor, and the rotational speed and rated voltage of the motor were 2000 rpm and 220 V, respectively. The axial flux HTS motor implements a revolving armature type for solid cooling of the HTS field coil. The electromagnetic and thermal features of the motor were analyzed and designed utilizing a 3D finite element method program. The HTS coil was maintained at the target temperature by effectively designing the current lead and cooling system to minimize heat loss. These results can be effectively used in the design of propulsion systems for large commercial aircraft in the future as well as for the design of small aircraft with less than 4 seats. Full article