HTS current lead using a composite heat pipe

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:10103467

Daugherty, M A; Prenger, F C; Hill, D D; Daney, D E; Woloshun, K A

This paper discusses the design and fabrication of HTS current leads being built by Los Alamos to supply power to a demonstration HTS coil which will operate in a vacuum cooled by a cryocooler. Because vapor cooling is not an option for this application the leads must be entirely conductively cooled. In the design of HTS current leads for this type of application, it is desirable to intercept part of the heat load at an intermediate temperature. This thermal intercept or connection must be electrically insulating but thermally conductive, two mutually exclusive properties of most candidate solid materials. To achieve this end we incorporate a composite nitrogen heat pipe, constructed of conducting and non-conducting materials, to provide efficient thermal communication and simultaneously, electrical isolation between the lead and the intermediate temperature heat sink. Another important feature of the current lead design is the use of high Jc thick film superconductors deposited on a non-conducting substrate to reduce the conductive heat leak through the lower portion of the lead. Two flexible electrical conductors are incorporated to accommodate handling, assembly and the dissimilar expansion coefficients of the various materials.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 10103467
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--94-3725; CONF-941013--14; ON: DE95003718
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360207
665412
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
HEAT PIPES
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
MAGNETIC SEPARATORS
SUBSTRATES
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
SUPERCONDUCTING WIRES
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
THERMAL CONDUCTION
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM