American Superconductor Corporation

Other

Carl J Russo

John Peter Voccio

Calman Gold

Chandrashekhar H Joshi

Anthony J Rodenbush

A method and apparatus for powering a high power load (on the order of 50,000 watts or more) can have an input from any of a plurality of different voltage sources, AC or DC. In one embodiment, the AC sources can have a frequency in the range of 16&frac23;-60 Hertz, and voltages in the range of 480-38,000 volts. The method and apparatus feature cryocooling inverter electronics, which converts an input signal to a high frequency high voltage signal, to, for example, less than about 180 K. A high frequency transformer receives the high frequency high voltage signal and transforms it into a desired voltage level which can then be filtered and/or demodulated and applied to the load. The transformer is preferably comprised of a superconducting material, and then, the inverter and transformer, at least, are actively cooled as required. In a particular embodiment, the circuitry replaces the heavy transformer construction used in driving induction motors in an electric traction engine from an overhead line or a third rail. This system can also employ an interlink between the rectified DC and the inverter for energy storage and smoothing effects.

High power drive from AC and DC sources using cryoelectronics

A method and apparatus for powering a high power load (on the order of 50,000 watts or more) can have an input from any of a plurality of different voltage sources, AC or DC. In one embodiment, the AC sources can have a frequency in the range of 162/3-60 Hertz, and voltages in the range of 480-38,000 volts. The method and apparatus feature cryocooling inverter electronics, which converts an input signal to a high frequency high voltage signal, to, for example, less than about 180K. A high frequency transformer receives the high frequency high voltage signal and transforms it into a desired voltage level which can then be filtered and/or demodulated and applied to the load. The transformer is preferably comprised of a superconducting material, and then, the inverter and transformer, at least, are actively cooled as required. In a particular embodiment, the circuitry replaces the heavy transformer construction used in driving induction motors in an electric traction engine from an overhead line or a third rail. This system can also employ an interlink between the rectified DC and the inverter for energy storage and smoothing effects.

Methods and apparatus for gasification of liquid nitrogen and other cryogenic liquids are provided. The apparatus includes a gasification unit capable of refrigerating at least one cryoelectronics energy converter and utilizing the heat generated thereby to gasify a cryogenic fluid. Refrigeration is provided by the cryogenic fluid in the gasification unit. The gasification unit is preferably capable of gasifying at least 1 liter/hour of cryogenic fluid. The gasification unit can be coupled to a chemical processing unit such that gasified cryogenic fluid produced in the gasification unit can be introduced into the chemical processing unit for use therein. A secondary heat recovery unit can be provided upstream of the chemical processing unit to separate entrained liquid particles from the gasified cryogenic fluid produced by the gasification unit. Cryogenic fluid can be supplied to the gasification unit from an air liquefaction plant, a storage tank, a truck or the like. The gasification unit can be used to gasify nitrogen, liquefied natural gas, carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen, argon, neon or other cryogenic fluids.

Methods and apparatus for liquid cryogen gasification

Methods and apparatus for liquid cryogen gasification utilizing

A cryogenically cooled circuit, operating at temperatures at which inductors windings of the circuit exhibit superconducting characteristics, provides unique advantages in high performance, preferably high power circuits. Portions of the circuit (or the entire circuit), as opposed to, for example only the superconducting elements (i.e., inductor winding), are refrigerated to cryogenic temperatures. Advantages in the characteristics of not only the superconducting based components but also the diodes, and gating elements such as MOSFET's, yield a uniquely advantageous circuit enabling the operation of, for example, a switching power supplies, frequency converters, and motor speed controllers with increased performance and efficiency. Size, component count, and stability are benefits attained by cryogenically cooling the entire circuit configuration. Cryogenically-cooled solid-state contacting switches may be utilized for connecting/disconnecting AC and/or DC power between the high performance circuit and a source/load.

Cryogenic electronics power supply

An actuator in which a magnetostrictor is subjected to magnetic fields produced by a superconducting coil, and the magnetostrictor and coil are maintained at temperatures below the magnetic transition temperature of the magnetostrictor and the superconducting temperature of the coil, typically at temperatures in the range of about 4 to about 130 degrees Kelvin. The magnetostrictor is a laminated Terbium Dysprosium (TbDy) alloy structure and the coil includes high temperature superconducting oxide material. The laminations of the TbDy structure are mechanically loaded in compression and each has a thickness substantially equal less than or equal to the depth of field penetration, and a cooler maintains both the TbDy and superconductor at their optimum temperatures.

Magnetostrictive superconducting actuator

A current limiting method and apparatus for preventing fault overload in a utility power transmission system employs a high power, superconducting coil based pulse transformer for saturating the core of the utility power transformer thereby limiting its current carrying capacity. The utility transformer core is biased to a disadvantageous portion of its B-H curve. A fault condition is detected and as a result the superconducting coil is quenched thereby sending a high energy pulse of current into the utility transformer magnetic core. The core, while heating, does not exceed its capability to maintain a stable thermal condition while at the same time limiting the current being transformed from its input to output lines, until a transformer circuit breaker activates.

Current limiters in power utility applications

A cryogenically cooled circuit, operating at temperatures at which inductors windings of the circuit exhibit superconducting characteristics, provides unique advantages in high performance, preferably high power circuits. The entire circuit, as opposed to for example only the superconducting portions of the circuit, are refrigerated to cryogenic temperatures. Advantages in the characteristics of not only the superconducting based components but also the diodes, and gating elements such as MOSFET's, yield a uniquely advantageous circuit enabling the operation of, for example, a switching power supply at lower frequency using larger inductor values. The refrigeration penalty is overcome at power outputs on the order of 50 kilowatts while and equally important, size, component count, and stability benefits are attained by cryogenically cooling the entire circuit configuration.

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Westlake, OH, United States of America

Carl J Russo