HTS Transmission Cable

Site of the Albany Cable Project
on the National Grid electrical
network in Albany, NY
(Blue = 1G HTS Cable,
Yellow = 2G HTS Cable)

Sumitomo 3-in-1 2G HTS Cable Configuration

Overview | Albany HTS Cable Project

Overview
The increased performance of HTS power cables will enable utilities to upgrade power density by 2 to 8 times in existing power corridors because HTS cables transmit power with essentially no electrical resistance. Currently, 7 - 10% of the electricity generated in the U.S. is lost because of the resistance inherent in conventional copper cables. This increased capacity is especially appealing for congested urban areas and for locations where there are limited rights-of-way.

... the mark of excellence

Benefits of HTS Power Cables

Current carrying capability 3-5 times that of conventional cable
Generates essentially no waste heat or electrical losses
Use of environmentally benign liquid nitrogen for cooling
Can be installed into existing conduit infrastructure
Takes up less space than conventional cables, leaving room for future expansion

Characteristics of HTS Power Cables

Will allow existing substations to service increasing power requirements
Can operate at high current levels with much lower losses
Reduced need for voltage transformation steps

Applications of HTS Power Cables

Designed for primarily underground installations
Primary application in large, power-hungry urban areas
High capacity interconnects

Albany (NY) Cable Project
SuperPower, Inc., in partnership with Linde (formerly known as BOC), Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and National Grid, designed, manufactured, installed an underground, high-temperature superconducting (HTS) power cable between two National Grid substations in Albany, NY.

Program Duration: 5 years

Funding:

$27M overall cost
$6M from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA)
$13.5M from the U.S. Department of Energy

Cable specifications:

34.5 kV, 800 A, 48 MVA
Flexible, underground, 350 m long with cable-to-cable joint
Three phases in one cryostat
Cold dielectric design
Self-contained, commercially viable, Cryogenic Refrigeration System (CRS) exceeding utility reliability standards
Initially 1G BSCCO - installed 2005
30m section replaced with 2G YBCO in 2007

Firsts:

3.5 times the length of any previously installed HTS cable
Installation in a standard utility underground right-of-way (other installations have been within an industrial site or a substation)
Addresses future commercialization by including a 30m YBCO cable section with potential for improved price/performance characteristics
Demonstrates an underground cable-to-cable joint which enables long cable runs

Status:

July 2006: Installation and Energization of Phase I completed
May 1, 2007: System de-energized in preparation for Project Phase II - Installation of 30 meter 2G HTS Cable
January 9, 2008: Phase II installation and testing completed and cable system is re-energized

For a DVD copy of the Albany HTS Cable Project video story, please send your request to: info@superpower-inc.com

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