Superconducting Cable Connections

The Navy has expressed interest in shipboard high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cable systems for power transmission and degaussing purposes. The practical application of such cable systems requires flexible superconducting cables and cable connectors that allow for a quick and reliable cable installation into, or removal from, its pre-installed cryostat. Advanced Conductor Technologies LLC (ACT) of Boulder, Colorado and the Center for Advanced Power Systems at Florida State University propose to develop flexible Coated Conductor Stranded (CCS) cables and reliable, low-loss CCS cable connections for their application in shipboard helium gas-cooled degaussing and power transmission systems. The CCS cable that is being commercialized by ACT is currently the only HTS cable that is flexible enough to be pulled through a pre-installed cryostat that has bends with a radius of less than 6 inches. Its feasibility for use in shipboard, helium gas-cooled cable systems will be determined. Small cable connectors for CCS degaussing and power transmission cables will be developed that allow for a quick cable installation or removal. The connectors will have a resistance of less than 2 micro-Ohms per tape connection to ensure a low electrical loss.