More Money, New Projects for Superconductors

Research on high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) has been funded by $57 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, matching $60 million contributed by private industry. Seven projects are being supported by taxpayer dollars, with the funds to be provided over four years. The projects are:

• Installation of a pre-commercial, long-length superconducting cable system for Long Island, N.Y.
• Development of a 100-mVA superconducting generator.
• Installation of a long-length HTS power cable, to be operated at an Ohio substation.
• Creation of a utility-sized prototype superconducting transformer.
• Use of an HTS in a magnetic resonance imaging system.
• Development of a 35-kW superconducting flywheel power risk management system.
• Experiment with a pre-production HTS reciprocating magnetic separator.

In a separate development, an underground HTS power cable is to be installed for the utility Niagara Mohawk in Albany, N.Y., by Intermagnetics General Corp., intended to demonstrate the superior capacity, reliability and power quality of HTS cables.

"High-temperature superconducting power cables hold the promise of increasing the state's electricity supply without increasing power plant emissions or expanding the transmission network," says William Flynn, president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

From Pure Power, Winter 2001.