Team Supercool
Naomi Kohen
Chris Kinney
Andy Lin
David Schoen
Superconducting Actuator
 Superconductors: 0 resistance
at low T
 Electrical actuator
Electrical Energy-> Mechanical
 Goal: Use HTS from American
Superconductor for an Actuator
Application: Punch
 Use Solenoid for magnetic field
 A hard magnet accelerates in
the field
 A strong field will produce a
significant force.
Important Considerations
 Need highest possible field
 Magnetic Field and the Force produced
are proportional to critical current
 Critical Current is determined by



Temperature
Magnetic Field
Strain
Current vs Bending Diameter
Conflicting Data
Another AS Spec Sheet: 100 mm
Magnetic-Field Effects
Constraints
 Currently 4 m wire




Using B = n I / 80L
5 cm long, 5 cm diameter -> 25 turns
I = 100 A
625 Gauss, .0625 Tesla
 Can get 50 m of wire


Neglecting H-field effects, ~8000 gauss
Need He-Cooling for high H-field
Critical Current Tests
Early Results
I-V Curves
5
4.5
4
3.5
Voltage (mV)
3
Trial 1
2.5
Trial 2
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0
20
40
60
80
Current (A)
100
120
140
Problem?
 How to interpret data?
Problems
I-V Curves
Voltage (mV)
10
Trial 1
1
1
10
100
0.1
Current (A)
1000
Trial 2
Analysis
 Summary


Data mismatch with literature
Can’t determine Ic
 Causes?
 Kinks in wire during setup
 Other test differences
 Perspective

Wire still carries 120 A without large
resistance
Next Steps
 Determine optimal radius


Varying PVC tubes with small wires, test
critical current
Choose smallest radius with best Ic
 Build small solenoid

Use best radius PVC tube
 Estimate magnetic field needed for
Punch
Revised Schedule
Questions?