Optimization of Rolling Process for Bi(2223)/Ag Superconducting Tapes by a Statistical Method

Ag-sheathed (Bi,Pb)(2)SoCa(2)Cu(3)O(x) tapes were prepared by the powder-in-tube method. The influences of rolling parameters on superconducting characteristics of Bi(2223)/Ag tapes were analyzed qualitatively with a statistical method. The results demonstrate that roll diameter and reduction per pass significantly influence the properties of Bi(2223)/Ag superconducting tapes while roll speed does less and working friction the least. An optimized rolling process was therefore achieved according to the above results.

Effect of cooling rate on evolution of superconducting phases during decomposition and recrystallization of (Bi,Pb)-2223 core in Ag-sheathed tape

The reformation of (Bi,Pb)-2223 from the liquid or melt is very important for a melting process of (Bi,Pb)-2223 tape. By combination of quenching experiment with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the effect of cooling rate on the evolution of three superconducting phases in the (Bi,Pb)-2223 core of Ag-sheathed tape was investigated. The results show that (Bi,Pb)-2223 reformation from the melt seems to experience different routes during slowly cooling at different rates. One is that (Bi,Pb)-2223 phase reformed directly from the melt, and no Bi-2212 participate in this process. The other is that (Bi,Pb)-2223 is converted from the intermediate product, Bi-2212, which formed from the melt during the first cooling stage. Due to the inherent sluggish formation kinetics of (Bi,Pb)-2223 from Bi-2212, only partial (Bi,Pb)-2223 can finally be reformed with the second route.

Experimental Investigation and Modelling for the Optimisation of Conduction Cooled HTS Hybrid Current Leads for SMES

It′s important that HTS tapes have lower thermal conductivity and higher transversal resistivity in order to reduce the heat leaks conducted along the tapes and AC losses in the high temperature superconducting system conduction cooled by GM coolers. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the effects of pure Ag and AgAu alloys sheath materials on the properties of Bi(2223) multifilamentary tapes and the optimisation of conduction cooled hybrid current leads made from copper and Bi(2223)/Ag or Bi(2223)/AgAu tapes. The thermal conductivity of the tapes were measured by cryogenic steady heat flux method and the resistance was measured by using standard DC four probe method at low temperature. The results showed that the reduction of thermal conductivity by the addition of Au into the sheath material of Bi(2223) tapes was 65 0 0, 75 0 0 and 85 0 0 lower than that of pure Ag sheathed Bi(2223) tapes and the increase of resistivity was 4.9 , 10 and 19.4 times higher than that of pure Ag for the addition of 2.2 0 0, 5.7 0 0 and 10.7 0 0Au(atom ratio) respectively. And the study also attempts to optimise thermodynamically the conduction cooled hybrid current lead by using a developed model, which took the irreversibility of commercial GM coolers, the contact resistance and thermal conductance into account. Predictions from the model showed that AgAu alloys were suitable candidate materials to replace Ag as sheath material of Bi(2223) tapes applied in HTS current leads. In addition, Bi(2223)/AgAu was a suitable material to be applied as the HTS section of hybrid current leads in conduction cooled superconducting electric systems.

Development and test in grid of 630 kVA three-phase high temperature superconducting transformer

A 630-kVA 10.5 kV/0.4 kV three-phase high temperature superconducting(HTS)power transformer was successfully developed and tested in a live grid.The windings were wound by hermetic stainless steelreinforced multi-filamentary Bi2223/Ag tapes.The structures of primary windings are solenoid with insulation and cooling path among layers,and those of secondary windings consist of double-pancakes connected in parallel.Toroidal cryostat is made from electrical insulating glass fiber reinforced plastics(GFRP)materials with room temperature bore for commercial amorphous alloy core with five limbs.Windings are laid in the toroidal cryostat so that the amorphous core operates at room temperature.An insulation technology of double-half wrapping up the Bi2223/Ag tape with Kapton film is used by a winding machine developed by the authors.Fundamental characteristics of the transformer are obtained by standard short-circuit and no-load tests,and it is shown that the transformer meets operating requirements in a live grid.