Development of Low AC Loss Coils for Superconducting Generators and Transformers

"New high power airborne and mobile military systems will require megawatts of electrical power produced by very lightweight power sources. The majority of these new systems will require multi-megawatts of power and require very high load voltages.Superconducting technology can allow generators that weigh as little as 20% of room temperature generators, and very light high voltage transformers. While BSCCO and YBCO coated conductors are being considered for generators and transformers at 20K, theAC loss characteristics of these conductors are not ideal. In January 2000 it was announced that magnesium diboride compound is superconducting up to 39 K. Our present properties of magnesium diboride wires in the 20-30 K range in magnetic fields up to 2tesla appear ideal for superconducting generators and transformers. We have also demonstrated a magnetic shielding approach that can result in a significant reduction of AC losses. This proposal explores the optimizing of multifilament magnesium diboridewire with regard to AC losses, and demonstrating that the wire can be made into the types of coils that would be used in superconducting generators and transformers By accelerating the development of a low cost, low AC loss magnesium diboride wire,commercial applications for superconducting transformers, open MRI, generators, and motors will implemented sooner in the marketplace."