Development of Compact, Lightweight Power Transmission Devices for Directed Energy Applications

The proposal addresses the issues related to the design of a MW class DC or AC current transmission line suitable for use onboard of an aircraft. The main questions are the amount of losses in such a line and the efficiency, weight and overall size of the whole system. The key issues that are addressed in the proposal are the amount of AC losses in the superconducting line and the heat losses in the current leads. We consider novel approaches to the loss reduction. The superconducting line is formed by YBCO coated conductors with operating temperature 60-65 K. In order to reduce AC losses and maximize critical current, the conductors are assembled as current dipoles placed in circular pattern and twisted at the ends. We also propose to use current leads with variable cross section in order to optimize the amount of heat flux and minimize the total weight. We will investigate a possibility to use non-vacuum thermal insulation and modular construction of the transmission line. The latter is necessary to insure that the equipment can be serviced and maintained by regular Air Force personnel. BENEFIT: By designing and testing this STTR project may lead to the development of new compact and lightweight power transmission devices with maximizing power/weight ratios and minimizing system heat losses including refrigeration of applicable devices based on recently developed higher power/weight wire conductors.)