Science Daily May 24, 2022
Previous work showed that the body of superconducting cables could be cooled with helium gas, but the cable ends needed another medium for cooling, such as liquid nitrogen. To improve efficiency and practicality a team of researchers in the US (University of Colorado, Florida State University, industry) overcame that obstacle and were able to cool an entire cable system with helium gas. Removing the need for liquid nitrogen allowed them to make a highly compact superconducting power cable that can be operated in a continuous mode. The system is small and lightweight, and it allows much easier integration into electric ships and aircraft. According to the researchers their work gives engineers more design flexibility and moves superconducting technology closer to practical solutions for those scenarios…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE