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Uses for superconducting wire?

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Microwatt

Wed Sept 28 2011, 01:50PM

Registered Member #3282 Joined: Wed Oct 06 2010, 05:01PM
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lets say that somebody from the secret government gave you 100m of superconducting wire. thin as 28 gauge but can carry 100,000 amps. what would you build with it? how would you connect it to copper wire as to prevent the copper from melting?

Inducktion

Wed Sept 28 2011, 02:22PM

Registered Member #3637 Joined: Fri Jan 21 2011, 11:07PM
Location: Buffalo, NY
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If it was superconducting....it could carry infinite amps. No matter how thick/thin it was.

I'd pprrrooobably try making some sort of lossless transformer. Or, maybe an induction heater coil. (since it has no losses, you wouldn't need water cooling anymore, plus it would be 100 times easier to maintain resonance)

Mattski

Wed Sept 28 2011, 03:13PM

Registered Member #1792 Joined: Fri Oct 31 2008, 08:12PM
Location: University of California
Posts: 527

Given that critical current densities max out out around 5kA/mm^2 (http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/magnettechnology/research/asc/documents/jeprog-100108-col.ppt) you wouldn't have to deal with 100kA in a 28AWG wire.

But hypothetically if you were pumping that much current through a copper wire you would probably want water cooling, and as large of a contact area as possible. If you have control over the superconductor portion you might even be able to get it formed into a large contact at the ends rather than a thin wire. Usually the copper portion doesn't need to handle that amount of current continuously which means you won't have as much heat to deal with, because once you start the current flow in the superconductor you can turn off the source.

Patrick

Wed Sept 28 2011, 04:19PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

Mattski wrote ...

Usually the copper portion doesn't need to handle that amount of current continuously which means you won't have as much heat to deal with, because once you start the current flow in the superconductor you can turn off the source.

I agree with what you have said Mattski, but should he turn the superconductor into a loop(s) with the ends joined,Then through transformer action he can avoid constant driving losses? right?

PSCG

Wed Sept 28 2011, 04:32PM

Registered Member #3792 Joined: Sun Mar 27 2011, 06:07PM
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I would try to built a coilgun....without any resistance in the coil, the projectile can reach 80 - 90% efficiency. Goodbye gunpowder!!!!

Mattski

Wed Sept 28 2011, 08:17PM

Registered Member #1792 Joined: Fri Oct 31 2008, 08:12PM
Location: University of California
Posts: 527

Patrick wrote ...

I agree with what you have said Mattski, but should he turn the superconductor into a loop(s) with the ends joined,Then through transformer action he can avoid constant driving losses? right?

Yep, you could certainly start a current flowing in a superconductor loop through magnetic coupling. Another technique that can be used apparently is to create a superconducting loop, but leave a portion of it above the critical temperature. A current can then be injected into the loop around this portion that is resistive, and the resistive portion is then brought below critical temperature to allow the current to continue endlessly.

Microwatt

Wed Sept 28 2011, 09:52PM

Registered Member #3282 Joined: Wed Oct 06 2010, 05:01PM
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i was thinking along the lines of a fist sized motor that can put out 200 horsepower. or howabout MHD thrusters for boats and spacecraft. even better would be portable high resolution MRI machines. with the ability to make megagauss fields many fields of science such as fusion

Patrick

Wed Sept 28 2011, 10:09PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

Mattski wrote ...

....but leave a portion of it above the critical temperature. A current can then be injected into the loop around this portion that is resistive, and the resistive portion is then brought below critical temperature to allow the current to continue endlessly....

Oooo! thats the method he should use! thats easy and Garage/DIY implementable. the other methods...not so much.

PS for those of you who dont know, even with zero resistance, there is still a maximum current density for each semiconductor cross section.

radiotech

Thu Sept 29 2011, 10:25PM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
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Posts: 1546

How would you deal with the magnetic field produced by the 100,000 Amp wire?
If someone plucked it , what would cause it to stop vibrating?

haxor5354

Fri Sept 30 2011, 01:09AM

Registered Member #2063 Joined: Sat Apr 04 2009, 03:16PM
Location: Toronto
Posts: 352

i'll make a super coil gun.

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