Experimental Study of Counterflow Cooling Using a Test Loop to Simulate the Thermal Characteristics of a HTS Cable System

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2012

OSTI ID:1154759

Demko, Jonathan A ^[1]

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1. ORNL

The counterflow cooling configuration is a compact, efficient, and relatively low cost thermal management approach for long-length HTS cable systems. In the counter-flow cooling configuration the coolant flow, typically liquid nitrogen, is initially supplied through the center of the cable turning around at the far end of the cable and returning through the annular space between the cable and the inner cryostat wall, using a single cryostat. The temperature distributions along the cable and the nitrogen flow streams are extremely difficult to measure in an operating HTS cable because of the issues associated with installing thermometers on high voltage components. A 5-meter long test loop has been built that simulates a counter-flow cooled, HTS cable using a heated metal tube to simulate the cable. The test loop contains calibrated thermometers to measure the temperature distribution along the tube and the return liquid nitrogen stream. Measured temperature distributions in the return flow stream and along the tube wall for varying flow rates and heating conditions to simulate a HTS cable are presented and discussed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: OE USDOE - Office of Electric Transmission and Distribution
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1154759
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English