Superconducting fault current limiter having improved energy handling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019229528-A1
Application number	US-201916245993-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2019
Priority date	Jan 19, 2018
Publication date	Jul 25, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A superconducting fault current limiter element, comprising: a plurality of tapes, arranged in electrical parallel fashion among one another, wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a superconductor tape, and wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a non-superconductor tape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A superconducting fault current limiter element, comprising:
a plurality of tapes, arranged in electrical parallel fashion among one another, wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a superconductor tape, and wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a non-superconductor tape.

2 . The superconducting fault current limiter element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tapes comprises four tapes, arranged in a stacked fashion, wherein a pair of outer tapes are superconductor tapes.

3 . The superconducting fault current limiter element of claim 2 , wherein a pair of inner tapes are non-superconductor tapes.

4 . The superconducting fault current limiter element of claim 2 , wherein a first inner tape of the plurality of tapes is a superconductor tape, and wherein a second inner tape of the plurality of tapes is a non-superconductor tape.

5 . The superconducting fault current limiter element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tapes are arranged one on top of another.

6 . The superconducting fault current limiter element of claim 1 , wherein a given tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a plurality of tape structures, arranged in electrical series with one another.

7 . The superconducting fault current limiter element of claim 6 , wherein a given tape structure of the plurality of tape structures comprises a base stainless steel layer and a top silver layer.

8 . The superconducting fault current limiter element of claim 7 , wherein the superconductor tape comprises a plurality of superconductor tape structures, wherein a given superconductor tape structure further comprises a superconductor layer, disposed between the top silver layer and the base stainless steel layer.

9 . A superconducting fault current limiter system, comprising:
a superconducting fault current limiter; an input conductor, coupled to the superconducting fault current limiter on a first side; an output conductor, coupled to the superconducting fault current limiter on a second side, and arranged in electrical series with the input conductor and the output conductor, wherein the superconducting fault current limiter comprises a plurality of superconducting fault current limiter elements, wherein a given superconducting fault current limiter element comprises:
a plurality of tapes, arranged in electrical parallel fashion among one another, wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a superconductor tape, and wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a non-superconductor tape.

10 . The superconducting fault current limiter system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of tapes comprises four tapes, arranged in a stacked fashion, wherein a pair of outer tapes are superconductor tapes.

11 . The superconducting fault current limiter system of claim 10 , wherein a pair of inner tapes are non-superconductor tapes.

12 . The superconducting fault current limiter system of claim 10 , wherein a first inner tape of the plurality of tapes is a superconductor tape, and wherein a second inner tape of the plurality of tapes is a non-superconductor tape.

13 . The superconducting fault current limiter system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of tapes are arranged one on top of another.

14 . The superconducting fault current limiter system of claim 9 , wherein a given tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a plurality of tape structures, arranged in electrical series with one another.

15 . The superconducting fault current limiter system of claim 14 , wherein a given tape structure of the plurality of tape structures comprises a base stainless steel layer and a top silver layer.

16 . The superconducting fault current limiter system of claim 15 , wherein the superconductor tape comprises a plurality of superconductor tape structures, wherein a given superconductor tape structure further comprises a superconductor layer, disposed between the top silver layer and the base stainless steel layer.

17 . A method, comprising:
providing a superconducting fault current limiter, the superconducting fault current limiter comprising a plurality of tapes, including at least one non-superconductor tape and at least one superconductor tape; conducting a current through the superconducting fault current limiter a first current level, wherein the first current level is below a critical current for the at least one superconductor tape; limiting the current passing through the superconducting fault current limiter during a fault event, wherein the at least one superconductor tape becomes non-superconducting; and dissipating an energy of the fault event through the plurality of tapes, including the at least one non-superconductor tape.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of tapes comprises at least four tapes, arranged in a stacked fashion, wherein a pair of outer tapes are superconductor tapes.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a pair of inner tapes are non-superconductor tapes.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a first inner tape of the plurality of tapes is a superconductor tape, and wherein a second inner tape of the plurality of tapes is a non-superconductor tape.

Assignees

• Varian Semiconductor Equipment Ass Inc

Inventors

• Nickerson Scott W
• Murphy Paul
• Jazebi Saeed

Classifications

• H01B12/02

  characterised by their form · CPC title

• H02H9/023 Primary

  Current limitation using superconducting elements · CPC title

• Y02E40/60

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

• H10N60/30

  Devices switchable between superconducting and normal states · CPC title