MOTIONLESS SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX PUMP

MAGNETIC ENERGY CAN BE KEPT FOR AN INDIFINITELY LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT ENERGY LOSS IN SUPERCONDUCTING ENERGY STORES. EFFICIENT ACCUMULATION AND DELIVERY OF THE ENERGY TO A LOAD, HOWEVER, REMAIN AS TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. THE SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX PUMP IS ONE DEVICE WHICH HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST TO ACCUMULATIVE AND DELIVER ENERGY. THE FLUX PUMP ACCUMULATES MAGNETIC FLUX SEQUENTIALLY AND TRANSFERS IT TO A STORAGE COIL. THE FLUX PUMP PROPOSED HERE ALLOWS RECHARGING IN THE FIELD FO THE SUPERCONDUCTING POWER SUPPLY, IS HIGHLY RELIABLE SINCE IT HAS NO MOVING PARTS AND IS PREDICTED TO HAVE A HIGH TRANSFER EFFICIENCY (>80 PERCENT) FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND DELIVERY. THE INADEQUACIES OF PREVIOUS FLUX PUMP DESIGN AS ADDRESSES AND CORRECTED IN THE PROPOSED DESIGN. IT IS PROPOSED TO DEVELOP THE DESIGN FOR A SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX PUMP BY MEANS OF ANALYTICAK AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES. THE ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATIONS SHALL INCLUDE MATERIAL, CIRCUIT ANALYSES AND TRADEOFF STUDIES USING ANALYTICAL CIRCUIT AND THERMODYNAMIC MODELS OF SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX PUMPS. FEEASIBILITY OF THE SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX PUMP SHALL BE DEMONSTRATED BY TESTING OF INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS AND FABRICATION OF A FLUX PUMP. THIS PHASE I PROGRAM DEMONSTRATES CONCEPT PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE. PHASE II WILL DEMONSTRATE SYSTEM INTEGRATION OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX PUMP. PHASE III WILL DEMONSTRATE PRODUCT COMMERCIALIZATION.