Applications of Superconductivity/Projected Benefits

With all these unique properties of superconductors, what can you possibly work with and what is the motivation for using superconductors? Applications of superconductors include:

·       Transmission Lines

Energy efficiency in transmission lines is a major issue in power distribution. There are many sources for energy loss in power distribution, including in the generators, transmission, and at the distribution grids. One area of optimization that would greatly improve the energy efficiency in power distribution is in the resistive property of transmission lines. In transmission lines, there can be a 10% to 15% loss of energy through electrical resistance. By making use of superconducting materials, this energy loss can be reduced to nearly 0%! The main setback of this utility is achieving the rather low temperature. In the case of transmission lines, liquid helium/liquid nitrogen cooling is required. Prototypes have been built that work across relatively small distances (one such prototype is shown below); more research is needed for worldwide implementation. However, the South Korean company LS Cable is attempting to establish a power grid making use of ceramic superconducting wiring, which is provided by the United States firm American Superconductor. Another reason the wiring has not been used is because the ceramic wires are very brittle, making it difficult to bend or contort the material. This is not ideal.

·       Superconducting Motors

For many typical motors, the efficiency of the electrical to mechanical energy conversion is fairly efficient. Using superconducting motors would not improve this efficiency. However, using superconducting motors would reduce the weight of a motor with the same output to about 1/10 of its original weight. In modern times, there is a higher demand for transportation and power needs. Optimizing the power output to weight ratio would greatly improve these systems, especially in transportation. No prototypes have been built of this yet, but a model of how it would be put together is shown below. Notice how the inductive coils are replaced by copper stator coils and the core shaft is surrounded by superconducting rotor cells, which are actuated by the copper stator coils. Using a motor such as this would not run into the same problems that using superconducting wiring would; the brittleness of the material is not a concern, since the material should not technically be moving much.

Source: http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/winner-superconductors-on-the-high-seas

·       Superconducting Magnetically Levitated Trains

Magnetically levitated trains are already in commercial use in many places throughout the world. However, superconducting materials in the train have not been in mainstream use. The Japanese Maglev Train MLX01 (shown below) is a prototype that set a world record speed of 321 mi/hr in 1979. This train operates by inducing a current in the rails below the train. The superconductive magnets, by the Meissner Effect, creates a repulsion of the current in the rails, which causes the train to levitate. The alternative method for magnetically levitated trains is using a set of electromagnets and having the train attached with magnets. The problems that using this system has and what using superconductors solved include inefficient use of electrical energy (most of it is lost through heat in the electromagnetic coils), having a physical size much larger than the superconducting system, and having a higher friction in the magnetic interaction than the superconductors.

Source: http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/mpa/stc/train.shtml

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