Successful installation of a 75 m 3-phase HTS cable on power grid
Experiments show that a 75 m, 10.5 kV /1.5 kA, 3-phase, AC high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable system installed on a power grid is reliable in operation and reached the expected energy-saving objectives.
Under the support of the National High-tech Development Program (dubbed the 863 Program), the research project is carried out by the CAS Institute of Electrical Engineering in cooperation with the CAS Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry and several business enterprises. The researchers have made progress in the commercialization of HTS technology for power grid applications. The R&D cost for the cable system per unit length is much lower than those on the existing ones. The feat also demonstrates that Chinese scientists are leading the world on HTS cable welding, low-temperature linking and the winding of multi-section cables.
Upgrading power utility industry is one of the fields to which the HTS technology can contribute. Among all possible power utility applications of HTS, power transmission cable is of great importance. The main advantages of superconductor cables over conventional cables are high capacity, superior efficiency, and compactness. Use of superconductor for transmitting electricity can reduce the energy loss due to extremely small Joule losses. Superconductor cables will also allow low voltage and large current transmission systems to be constructed. This will reduce the cost of high voltage auxiliary equipment and the impact on environment.
