Processing steps include:
Electropolishing to achieve the smooth, clean surface for the 12 mm wide hastelloy-based substrate, as a prerequisite for the successful addition of the buffer and superconductor layers
Ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) or sputtering of a stack of buffer layers that act as a template layer to introduce the biaxial texture for the superconductor material
Metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of the superconductor, based on yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) or other rare earth materials
Sputtering of a thin cover layer of silver to provide electrical contact
Slitting to application-specific tape widths (i.e. 6 mm, 4 mm)
Depending on the application, electroplating to completely surround the wire (Surround Copper Stabilizer, or SCS).
For additional product information, see 2G HTS Wire > [1]
Request A Quote > [2]
Electropolishing to achieve the smooth, clean surface for the 12 mm wide hastelloy-based substrate, as a prerequisite for the successful addition of the buffer and superconductor layers
Ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) or sputtering of a stack of buffer layers that act as a template layer to introduce the biaxial texture for the superconductor material
Metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of the superconductor, based on yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) or other rare earth materials
Sputtering of a thin cover layer of silver to provide electrical contact
Slitting to application-specific tape widths (i.e. 6 mm, 4 mm)
Depending on the application, electroplating to completely surround the wire (Surround Copper Stabilizer, or SCS).
For additional product information, see 2G HTS Wire > [1]
Request A Quote > [2]
Configuration of SuperPower® 2G HTS Wire
Wire Type SCS4050 (not to scale)
Attributes [3] | Manufacturing Capability [4] | QA/QC - Characterization [5] | QA/QC - Testing [6] | Wire Applications & Capabilities [7]
SuperPower is now routinely manufacturing long lengths (kilometer-class) of robust and high performing 2G HTS wire (coated conductors), based on (RE)BCO (rare earth barium copper oxide). This 2G HTS wire is fabricated by an automated, continuous process using thin film deposition techniques, such as those used in the semiconductor industry, to apply the superconducting material on buffered metal substrates.
Wire Type SCS4050 (not to scale)Attributes [3] | Manufacturing Capability [4] | QA/QC - Characterization [5] | QA/QC - Testing [6] | Wire Applications & Capabilities [7]
SuperPower is now routinely manufacturing long lengths (kilometer-class) of robust and high performing 2G HTS wire (coated conductors), based on (RE)BCO (rare earth barium copper oxide). This 2G HTS wire is fabricated by an automated, continuous process using thin film deposition techniques, such as those used in the semiconductor industry, to apply the superconducting material on buffered metal substrates.
Attributes of SuperPower® 2G HTS Wire
- SuperPower 2G HTS Wire demonstrates superior performance in a magnetic field, a property that we believe is due to the nano-scale flux pinning centers created through the use of a rare earth element substitution in the materials. The nano-scale flux pinning takes any magnetic flux that may be moving through the wire and fixes it into place. This is done to decrease the amount of resistance. It is easier for the current to move around a stationary object than around one that is moving
- SuperPower 2G HTS Wire is half as thick as 1G HTS wire and 2G HTS wire made by other companies
- total wire thickness is only 0.095 mm, twice the engineering current density
- SuperPower 2G HTS Wire uses Surround Copper Stabilizer (SCS)
- no sharp corners, valuable for high voltage applications
- copper can be striated for lower ac losses
- SuperPower 2G HTS Wire uses high-strength Hastelloy® substrate
- better mechanical properties and lower ac losses
- non-magnetic substrate has lower ferromagnetic losses
- highly-resistive substrate results in less eddy current losses
- SuperPower 2G HTS Wire is very mechanically robust
- can slit to narrow widths
- capable of small twist pitches (important for striated geometry to be fully effective in long lengths)
Manufacturing Capability
SuperPower is the only company in the world that is currently able to deliver large volume of long-length, high performance 2G HTS wire:- Routinely manufacturing long single-piece lengths
- Achieving high critical current in long lengths: 80 - 110 A in 4 mm widths
- achieved world's best critical currents in 1, 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 meter lengths
- Achieving very uniform critical current of about 10% standard deviation over long lengths
- Excellent results with joints, splices and soldering
- no degradation in Ic even when joint/splice is bent over 1" diameter and thermal cycled
- joint/splice resistance ~40 nohm cm2
- no problems with soldering to SuperPower 2G HTS Wire
- Short delivery times
- ten times the throughput of any other organization
- pilot-scale facilities are in place and operational
- helix processing (as opposed to wide tape) enables long piece lengths even for same throughput
QA/QC - Characterization
The 2G HTS wire is put through several QC and QA processes to ensure the product's structured uniformity. Characterization measurements are completed throughout the manufacturing process and are designed to ensure maximum product performance and reliability.QA/QC - Testing
Testing for critical current (Ic) and mechanical performance is completed as the final step in the manufacture of SuperPower's 2G HTS wire. Critical current tests determine the maximum amount of current the wire can carry when cooled to cryogenic temperatures. These tests are performed reel-to-reel and from end-to-end. Transport Ic and n-value data are supplied every one to 5 meters. Thickness and width measurements can be provided every 5 meters. Mechanical tests, including bend tests, tensile tests, and spiral winding tests, determine the mechanical properties of the wire. Every wire delivery includes complete test results.
The world's first prototypes of cables and rotating machines have been successfully constructed and tested by our partners using SuperPower® 2G HTS Wire:
Additional information about SuperPower 2G HTS Wire:
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Wire Applications & Capabilities
This wire has the potential of operating high field devices at liquid nitrogen temperatures. At 77K, (RE)BCO operates at several Tesla.The world's first prototypes of cables and rotating machines have been successfully constructed and tested by our partners using SuperPower® 2G HTS Wire:
- A 1 meter 2G HTS cable was constructed by Sumitomo Electric Industries in 2005, using SuperPower® 2G HTS Wire
- ac losses of 0.36 W/kA-m was demonstrated
- A high field 2G HTS coil constructed in 2006 was enabled by the high Je of SuperPower's very thin 2G HTS wire
- 1.1 T achieved at 77K
- 2.4 T achieved at 64K
- A high field 2G HTS coil constructed in 2007 achieved world-record results
- 9.81 T achieved at 4.2K Central Field (self field)
- 26.8 T achieved at 4.2K Central Field (19T Background axial field)
Additional information about SuperPower 2G HTS Wire:
- SuperPower 2G HTS MSDS Sheet [8]
- Soldering Instructions [9]for SuperPower 2G HTS Wire
- SuperPower Insulated Wire
[10] - Details about High Quality Joints [11]for SuperPower 2G HTS Wire
- Request A Quote [12]
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