Development of Nb/sub 3/Ge conductors for superconducting power transmission

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6495932

Newkirk, L R; Maley, M P; Thompson, J D; Valencia, F A

Superconductors based upon Nb/sub 3/Ge have been fabricated by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process in long lengths in a configuration suitable for an ac power transmission line. This material exhibits a transition temperature T/sub c/ greater than or equal to 21.0/sup 0/K and a critical current density J/sub c/ = 2.5 x 10/sup 6/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 14.0/sup 0/K and offers the possibility of high current operation at temperatures approx. 14.0/sup 0/K. AC-power losses which are acceptably low for ac-power transmission at T = 14.0/sup 0/K have been measured on short tubular samples. These characteristics are significantly superior to those of presently available superconductors based upon Nb/sub 3/Sn and promise economic benefits in refrigeration and cryogenic enclosure costs when applied to power transmission. The material development program which resulted in superior superconducting properties for Nb/sub 3/Ge and the effort which culminated in the fabrication of long Nb/sub 3/Ge-clad tapes are described. The tapes, prepared in lengths 5 to 20 m, consist of 3 to 7 ..mu..m of Nb/sub 3/Ge per side coated onto 0.64-cm-wide, 25-..mu..m-thick substrates of Cu, Ni, or Cu-clad stainless steel. Excellent uniformity of physical and electrical properties is observed. A dc transport measurement of critical current carried out by passing current through an entire 7.0-m length of tape was in good agreement with J/sub c/ measurements performed on short samples taken from each end of the tape. A production rate of 3.5 m/h of tape coated with 4.0 ..mu..m of Nb/sub 3/Ge per side has been achieved for material that exhibits a J/sub c/ = 2.5 x 10/sup 6/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 14.0/sup 0/K.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6495932
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-78-2577; CONF-790417-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

200303* -- Power Transmission & Distribution-- Superconducting & Cryogenic Systems-- (-1989)
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
AC LOSSES
AC SYSTEMS
ALLOYS
CABLES
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
CURRENT DENSITY
DATA
DATA FORMS
DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC CABLES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FABRICATION
GERMANIUM ALLOYS
GRAPHS
INFORMATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER SYSTEMS
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
SUPERCONDUCTING CABLES
SURFACE COATING
VERY LOW TEMPERATURE