System and method for operating a bulk superconductor device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10971291-B2
Application number	US-201715639814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	Jun 30, 2017
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus includes a chamber and a bulk superconductor disposed within the chamber. The apparatus also includes a heating element coupled to the bulk superconductor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bulk superconductor device comprising:
a chamber;
a bulk superconductor disposed within the chamber, the bulk superconductor having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, at least one side surface that extends from the first surface to the second surface, and a cavity formed in the bulk superconductor that extends from a center of the first surface toward the second surface;
at least one coil that surrounds the at least one side surface; and
a heating element coupled to the bulk superconductor, wherein a first portion of the heating element is positioned in the cavity, wherein a second portion of the heating element is coupled to the first surface, and wherein the second portion surrounds an opening of the cavity.

2. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , wherein activation of the heating element when the bulk superconductor is magnetized causes magnetic flux of the bulk superconductor to cascade towards the at least one side surface.

3. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the cavity extends through the bulk superconductor to the second surface.

4. The bulk superconductor device of claim 3 , wherein the first surface and the second surface have square geometries.

5. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement structure coupled to the bulk superconductor.

6. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second bulk superconductor disposed within the chamber; and
a second heating element attached to the second bulk superconductor.

7. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a second heating element proximate to the second surface of the bulk superconductor.

8. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the chamber contains nitrogen as a liquid cryogen and a block of solid nitrogen as a solid cryogen.

9. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling element configured to conductively cool the bulk superconductor.

10. The bulk superconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a second bulk superconductor disposed within the chamber.

11. A method of operating a bulk superconductor device, the method comprising:
storing magnetic energy by a bulk superconductor disposed within a chamber, the bulk superconductor having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, at least one side surface that extends from the first surface to the second surface, and a cavity formed in the bulk superconductor that extends from a center of the first surface toward the second surface;
receiving, by the bulk superconductor, heat from a heating element, wherein a first portion of the heating element is positioned in the cavity, wherein a second portion of the heating element is coupled to the first surface, and wherein the second portion surrounds an opening of the cavity; and
responsive to receiving the heat, discharging, by the bulk superconductor, at least a portion of the magnetic energy to induce current in a coil that surrounds the at least one side surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising cooling the bulk superconductor to a particular temperature.

13. A bulk superconductor system comprising:
a plurality of bulk superconductors including a first bulk superconductor and a second bulk superconductor, the first bulk superconductor having a first surface, second surface opposite the first surface, at least one side surface that extends from the first surface to the second surface, and a cavity formed in the bulk superconductor that extends from a center of the first surface toward the second surface;
a heating element coupled to the first bulk superconductor, wherein a first portion of the heating element is positioned in the cavity, wherein a second portion of the heating element is coupled to the first surface, and wherein the second portion surrounds an opening of the cavity;
at least one coil that surrounds the at least one side surface; and
a plurality of switch devices electrically coupled to the plurality of bulk superconductors, wherein, in a first configuration of the plurality of switch devices, the first bulk superconductor and the second bulk superconductor are coupled in series, and wherein, in a second configuration of the plurality of switch devices, the first bulk superconductor and the second bulk superconductor are coupled in parallel.

14. The bulk superconductor system of claim 13 , further comprising a chamber, the first bulk superconductor and the second bulk superconductor disposed within the chamber.

15. The bulk superconductor system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first chamber, the first bulk superconductor disposed within the first chamber; and
a second chamber, the second bulk superconductor disposed within the second chamber.

16. The bulk superconductor system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of bulk superconductors is arranged in a toroidal configuration.

17. The bulk superconductor system of claim 13 , wherein the first bulk superconductor and the second bulk superconductor are in a stacked configuration.

18. The bulk superconductor system of claim 13 , further comprising a load device coupled to an output of the plurality of bulk superconductors.

19. The bulk superconductor system of claim 18 , wherein the load device comprises a laser.

20. The bulk superconductor system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of bulk superconductors and the plurality of switch devices are included in an aircraft or a spacecraft.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hull John R
• Strasik Michael
• Sievers Daniel Elliott

Classifications

• Y02E40/60

  Superconducting electric elements or equipment; Power systems integrating superconducting elements or equipment · CPC title

• B64D41/00 Primary

  Power installations for auxiliary purposes · CPC title

• H01F6/02

  Quenching; Protection arrangements during quenching {(protection circuits H02H7/001)} · CPC title

• H01F6/00

  Superconducting magnets; Superconducting coils {(magnetic resonance assemblies using superconducting coil systems G01R33/3815)} · CPC title

• B64D2041/005

  Fuel cells · CPC title