Rolls-royce Corporation

Philip M Sargent

Peter Malkin

Brian E Simmers

Stephen Mark Husband

Tim A Coombs

Archie M Campbell

A superconducting device comprises a vacuum chamber and means to evacuate the vacuum chamber. A base plate is provided within the vacuum chamber and first, second and third cylindrical walls extend from the base plate. The second and third cylindrical walls are arranged coaxial with the first cylindrical wall. A first chamber is defined between the first cylindrical wall and the second cylindrical wall, a second chamber is defined between the second cylindrical wall and the third cylindrical wall and a third chamber is defined within the third cylindrical wall. A superconducting wire is arranged within the second chamber and a cryogenic insulating material is arranged within the second chamber to encapsulate the superconducting wire. A material having a high specific heat capacity is arranged within the first chamber and there are means to cool the base plate.

Superconducting device

A fault current limiter comprising: an input node; an output node; a variable impedance element coupled between the input node and the output node; a closed loop cryocooler circuit, comprising a first cryocooler for cooling the variable impedance element and a second cryocooler, thermally coupled to the first cryocooler, for cooling the first coolant, wherein the variable impedance element comprises Magnesium Diboride.

Fault current limiter

A conductor element for a superconducting FCL has an elongate superconducting elementsurrounded by bodies, which form a thermal mass around the element. The thermal mass is in thermal connection with a cooling system, such as a cryogenic system. The bodiesare solid, for example copper. The thermal mass maintains even temperature along the element, to improve fault response and recovery. Cooling functions are provided externally of the conductor element and may be by means of conventional cryogenic cooling systems. The element is free of cryogens and robust.

A fault current limiter comprising: an input node; an output node; a variable impedance element coupled between the input node and the output node; a multi-cycle refrigeration system, comprising a first coolant cycle for cooling the variable impedance element and a second coolant cycle, thermally coupled to the first coolant cycle, for cooling the first coolant, wherein the variable impedance element comprises Magnesium Diboride.

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Philip M Sargent