Superconductivity:Power in the Fast Lane

Paul M. GrantEPRI Lead, Tech Forecast

Strategic Science & TechnologyIEEE Power Engineering Winter

Meeting4 February 1998

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Fathers of Electricity

DiscoverersDiscoverers

PractitionersPractitioners

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Fathers of Cryogenics

Dewar Kammerlingh-Onnes

CH4 112 KO 90N2 77Ne 27H2 20He 4.2

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

(((

Models of Electrical ConductivityThe First Idea:R

T

Just Goesto Zero!

(((

(((

(((

• •e-e-

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Models of Electrical ConductivityThe Most Popular:R

T

Freezes Out!e-

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Models of Electrical ConductivityReality:R

T

Limited byImpurities!

•e-

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Thus the mercury at 4.2 K has entered a new state, which, owing to its particular electrical properties, can be called the state of superconductivity

H. Kamerlingh-Onnes (1911)

A Big Surprise!

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Physics of Superconductivity

+ +

+ +•e-

•e-

Electrons Pair Off!

)/1exp( 14.1 DCT

BCS Equation

(Niobium) K 5.9

,28.0

,K 275

C

D

T

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

TC vs. Year: The Past

0

5

10

15

20

25

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980Year

Te

mp

era

ture

(K

)

Hg

Pb

NbN V3Si

Nb3Sn

Nb3Ge

Cubic Metals

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Superconductivity:What’s It Good For?

MRI Surgical UnitGeneral Electric

TevatronFermi National Laboratory

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Superconductivity:High-Tc Surprise!

Bednorz and MuellerIBM Zuerich, 1986

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 0

50

100

150

200

Tem

perature, T

C (K

)

Year

Low-TC

High-T

C

164 K

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

1987:“The Prize!”

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Type II Superconductivity

IrreversibilityLine

Meissner

Mixed

Normal

Mag

net

ic F

ield

Temperature

-M

HHC2HC1

1/4

TC

HC1

HC2

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

H

J

FLorentz Defects (pin sites)

LorentzForce

Abrikosov Vortex Lattice

Vortices

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

BSCCO OPIT/Ag Process

ASC Wire Forming Process

Oxide Powder Mechanically Alloyed Precursor

A. Extrusion

B. Wire DrawC. Rolling

1. PowderPreparation

Billet Packing& Sealing

Deformation& Processing

Oxidation -Heat Treat

2.

3.

4.

Wire is the electrical commodity

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

BSCCO OPIT/Ag TapeGeneration I Wire

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Power Applications:Wire for Cables

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Y-123 Bi-2223

Layered CuO Perovskites

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

• Biaxially Oriented Y-123

• Out of Japan, LANL, ORNL

• EPRI/ASC Alliance to Commercialize

Coated HTSC ConductorsGeneration II Wire

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

“The SokPlot”

1000 100 10 1 0.11

10

100

1000

10000

Y-123 IBAD

EURUS

Bi-2223

77K, 0T

Siemens

Target

Bi-2223

77K, 0T

NKT Target

"Sokolowski Plot" of HTSC Wire Performance and Cost

NbTi

4.2K, 2T

Bi-2212

4.2K, 0T

IGC

Nb3Sn

4.2K, 12-15 T

Bi-2223

77K, 0T

IGC

$1,000

$100$10 $1 /kAm

Op

era

tin

g C

urr

en

t, Ic

(A

)

Cost ($/m)

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Wire C/P Market Entry Thresholds

Time

C/P

($/

kA

×m

)

Substation Elimination

SMES/FCL/Transformers

70% New UG Cables

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Electricity & SC:Weakest Scenario

• Fuel Types & Location– Gas, Renewables Dominate - No More Nukes– Distributed Generation Grows

• Geopolitics– Regional Instability– Economic Gap between Nations Continues

• Environment– Carbon Sequestration Successful– Risk Abatement Deferred

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Electricity & SC:Strongest Scenario

• Fuel Types & Location– Nukes, Hydro, Non-Transportables Dominate– Centralized Generation Grows

• Geopolitics– Regional Stability Achieved– Economic Gap between Nations Shrinks

• Environment– Risk Abatement Implemented – Global Climate Change Proven/Perceived

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Global Electrification:A Superconductivity Solution

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

The SuperconductingElectricity Pipe!

I

-V

Ground

Structural Support

SuperconductingElectricityPipeline

ThermalInsulation

ElectricalInsulation

Superconductor(-V)

Superconductor(+V)

+VI

LiquidNitrogen

• Total Cryo System

• Power: 5 GW dc

• Cost: < Gas, HVDC > 500 Miles

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

Gas/HVDC Comparison

Marginal Cost of Electricity (Mid Value Fuel Costs)

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

2.20

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Miles

c/kW

h

LVDC ($5.5/kA-m @ 65K)

LVDC ($10/kA-m @ 77K)

HVDC

gas pipeline

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Superconductivity4 February 1998

EdisonMaybe he was right after all!

TeslaInventor,

Polyphase ac System

Electricity DeliveryIs Its Future dc?