Thermal anchoring of conduction-cooled current leads for superconductivity applications near liquid nitrogen temperature

Abstract

As the YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta), or YBCO, superconductor is commercially developed and utilized for various HTS (high temperature superconductor) applications such as motor, generator, and fault current limiter, the cryocooling for 50 or 60 K range is more demanded than ever. In this case, non-superconducting current leads instead of HTS ones need to be used for energization from room temperature all the way to the cryogenic operating temperature. This technical note describes a simple method of reducing cooling load requirement for those HTS applications. Non-superconducting current leads are to be thermally anchored at an appropriate intermediate cryogenic temperature before they are connected to the application target temperature. The optimum thermal-anchoring temperature and its configuration have been obtained to minimize the required cryocooler's cooling capacity for practical as well as ideal cases. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.