Superconducting Power Dense Inductors and reactors for Power Filtering Applications

Currently, power electronic systems, for the Navy results in systems that are 10 times too large and heavy. The passive components such as inductors, reactors, and transformers take up a considerable percentage of the weight and volume. Superconductingpassive components can dramatically reduce the size and weight of these components. This project investigates the potential of using magnesium diboride superconductor wires for these types of passive components. Magnesium diboride wire has the potentialof being a very low AC loss superconductor compared to other potential high temperature superconductors. The Phase I will demonstrate the AC loss properties of the wires, the ability to make coils using the wires, and determine scale up potential forbuilding a full size component in a Phase II effort. The development of magnesium diboride superconductor wires has potential for commercial MRI magnets, and components for the power utility industry such as transformers, reactors, fault current limiters, generators, and motors.