The Feasibility Study of High T_c Superconducting Power Cable

Abstract

When superconducting oxides, which have smaller lower-critical field values H_c1's compared with metallic superconductors, are applied to a heavy current power transmisson cable, its operation in the surface current region (≤H_c1) is impossible, in which very low AC loss can be expected. For a large AC current capacity with a restricted cable diameter, operation in the region above H_c1 is required for an oxide cable, in which considerably larger AC loss will be generated compared with a metallic superconductor cable. In this study, AC loss for an oxide cable at liquid nitrogen temperature is calculated by using the Bean model. The result indicates that, for a 60mm diameter conductor, critical current densities, 10⁴ and 10⁵A/cm² of oxide superconductors are required for 5, 000 and 10, 000A current capacity cables, respectively.