Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Contents:- What’s New in the World of Superconductivity (February)
Feature Articles : ISS2003 Topics- The 16th International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS 2003)- Physics and Chemistry- Bulks/System Applications- Wires & Tapes/System Applications- Films & Junctions/ Electronic Devices- Exhibition
Feature Articles : SMES
- Development of Cost Reduction Technology for SMES
- A Technical Survey of High-Temperature Superconducting SMES
- Ongoing Development and Outlook for Practical Application- Development of SMES for Bridging Instantaneous Voltage Dips
Feature Articles : Superconducting Wires- Until Today and the Future- Development and Practical Application of Nb-system Superconducting Wire
- Practical Application of Bi-system Superconducting Wire
- Development of Y-System Superconducting Wire
- Critical Magnetic Field of MgB2 Wire Made with the PIT Method- Superconductivity Related Product Guide -Superconducting Wire- Patent Information- Standardization Activities
Top of Superconductivity Web21

Superconductivity Web21
Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3431-4002 Fax: +81-3-3431-4044
Top of Superconductivity Web21: http://www.istec.or.jp/Web21/index-E.html

This work was subsidized by the Japan Keirin Association using
promotion funds from the KEIRIN RACE

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

What’s New in the World of Superconductivity (February)
Power
American Superconductor Corporation (February 4, 2004)
American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) and Industrial Research Limited (IRL; a New
Zealand national laboratory) announced that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued a fundamental
composition of matter patent for the HTS material commonly known as BSCCO 2223. AMSC is the
exclusive licensee of this patent and will receive 17 years of worldwide patent protection. BSCCO 2223, thematerial used to make commercial first-generation HTS wire and HTS products, was first developed andpatented in 1988 by IRL. In 1989, patent applications were filed in the USA and several global markets(including the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand), and the patent was assigned to a
New Zealand holding company called Superlink, which is currently owned by IRL and Meridian Energy Ltd.,a New Zealand power utitility. AMSC obtained exclusive, worldwide rights to this patent in 1992, after
entering a presently ongoing business relationship with IRL. The patent provides AMSC with exclusive
rights to the commercial use of BSCCO 2223 in the USA; with commercial applications of first-generation
wire just entering the market, the patent is particularly powerful. Several companies around the world havechallenged the BSCCO 2223 patent because it is fundamental to the production of commercial HTS wire.
The patent actually specifies a composition ratio of 2.1:2:2:3, not 2:2:2:3; however, the superconducting
composition used commercially today contains a slight excess of bismuth and lead. Consequently, thepatent covers the primary superconductor material used for commercial first-generation wire. According toAlex Malozemoff, chief technical officer of AMSC, “This newly issued patent applies to all of today’scommercial applications of HTS wire. It is extremely strong because it has withstood more than 14 yearsof review by the U.S. Patent Office and has overcome numerous legal challenges from multiple companies
around the world.” Competitors in the USA will not be able to sell first-generation HTS wire unless AMSC
agrees to a sublicense. AMSC is, at present, the only manufacturer of BSCCO 2223 wire in the USA andhas a USA and European cross-licensing agreement for first-generation wire with Sumitomo ElectricIndustries. Note that this patent does not cover second-generation HTS wire, which is being developed
using a YBCO-123 compound.
Source:“American Superconductor Is Exclusive Licensee of Newly Issued Patent For Material Used In Commercial
High Temperature Superconductor Wire”
American Superconductor Corporation press release (February 4, 2004)
http://www.amsuper.com/html/newsEvents/news/10335061601749.html“BSCCO Patent Announcement Frequently Asked Questions”
American Superconductor Corporation press release (February 4, 2004)
http://www.amsuper.com/html/newsEvents/news/10335061601752.html
American Superconductor Corporation (February 5, 2004)
American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) reported their financial results for their third
quarter, ending December 31, 2003. Net revenues for the third quarter were US $ 12.3 million, up 347%
from the $2.8 million reported for the same period in the previous fiscal year. These results also represented
a sequential increase of 28%, compared with the results for the second quarter of the present fiscal year.
Net loss for the quarter was $6.5 million, compared with $12.6 million for the same period in the previous

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―1−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

fiscal year. AMSC received $2.9 million in new orders and contracts during the third quarter, and their total
backlog of orders and contracts as of December 31, 2003, was $75.2 million, approximately $10.6 million ofwhich is expected to be realized as revenue in the fourth quarter. AMSC ended the third quarter with cash,
cash equivalents, and long-term investments amounting to $56.9 million and no long-term debt. AMSC
forecasts their fiscal 2004 revenues to be in the range of $40 to $42 million, with a net loss in the range of$27 to $29 million
Source:“American Superconductor Reports Fiscal 2004 Third Quarter and Nine-Month Results”
American Superconductor Corporation press release (February 5, 2004)
http://www.amsuper.com/html/newsEvents/news/10335061601753.html
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (February 13, 2004)
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have predicted that theUnited States will need to invest US $ 450 billion in conventional electric infrastructure to meet the expecteddemand over the next 20 years. Since the mortgage on new electric components is a much larger
component of electric rates than fuel costs, minimizing new infrastructure will be essential to keeping
electricity rates affordable. Increasing grid efficiency will also be critical, since only 75% of the USA’s
generation assets and 50% of its distributed systems are generally in use, with a peak capacity of 10% and
25% held in reserve to meet 400 hours of peak usage. To solve the above problems, the PNNL researchgroup has proposed a complete transformation of the electricity system by integrating information
technology, superconductors, energy storage, customer load management, and distributed generation. In
particular, information technology could be used to optimize the system, minimizing the need for new
infrastructure and making the system more secure while saving more than $80 billion in deferredconstruction costs, etc.
Source:“PNNL envisions smart energy approach projected to save billions”
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory press release (February 13, 2004)
http://www.pnl.gov/news/2004/04-05.htm
Trithor (February 18, 2004)
Trithor announced that the European Union (EU) commission has awarded 2 million euros to a
consortium led by Trithor for the development of commercial manufacturing processes forsecond-generation HTS wires for electric power applications. Commented Dr. Jens Müller, Managing
Director of Trithor, “The combination of seed funding and networking with some of Europe’s bestlaboratories stands for a successful jump-start into 2G wire.” The consortium has narrowed the number ofmanufacturing approaches it intends to pursue and will employ three main criteria to all proposed elements:
1) the component must enable same or better performance than existing commercial 1G HTS wire; 2) thecomponent must enable a price-performance ratio that compares favorably with those of conventional
conductors, including copper; and 3) commercial manufacture must be feasible by 2010. Trithor is presently
the only industrial manufacturer in Europe that is working on both first- and second-generation HTS wire.
Source:“Trithor Receives Grant to Develop Second Generation HTS Wire”
Trithor press release (February 18, 2004)
http://www.trithor.de/pdf/2004-02-18%20Trithor%20received%20COCON%20grant.pdf

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―2−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Communication
Superconductor Technologies Inc. (February 4, 2004)
Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI) has announced their preliminary, unaudited results forthe fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2003. STI expects to report net revenue of approximately
US $16.4 million for the quarter, bringing the total for the year to $49.4 million. These results represent asignificant increase from the $7.0 million and $22.4 million, respectively, reported for the previous fiscal year.
The company also expects to announce that it reached profitability in the fourth quarter, a significant
company milestone. M. Peter Thomas, STI's president and chief executive officer, stated that "As we enter
2004, we expect further market acceptance of STI's products in an improving wireless infrastructure market.
We are therefore looking forward to continued commercial revenue growth and to our first profitable year in
2004.” While commercial revenue is expected to be at a seasonal low in the first quarter, in parallel with adecline in government R&D revenue, commercial revenue growth is expected to offset any losses ingovernment funding by the second quarter, as the company expands its customer base and global
presence. The company’s fourth quarter and full year earnings will be released on March 1, 2004.
Source:“Superconductor Technologies Announces Preliminary Results for 2003”
Superconductor Technologies Inc. press release (February 4, 2004)
http://ir.thomsonfn.com/InvestorRelations/PubNewsStory.aspx?partner=5951&storyId=106520
ISCO International, Inc. (February 17, 2004)
ISCO International has announced their financial results for the fourth quarter and full year
ending December 31, 2003. Net revenues of US $1,289,000 and $3,238,000 were reported for the fourth
quarter and full year, respectively; in comparison, $1,536,000 and $3,663,000 were reported for the fourth
quarter and full year, respectively, in the previous fiscal year. Net losses decreased to $319,000 for the
fourth quarter and $7,156,000 for the full year, down from $2,483,000 and $14,078,000 for the fourth
quarter and full year, respectively, in the previous fiscal year. The gross margin for the year was 49%,
compared with 3% for the previous year. This improvement was due mainly to the continuation of thecompany’s outsourced manufacturing strategy and its focus on higher value-added business. The
company also settled a pending litigation that was scheduled for trial in March 2004. Consequently, thecompany recorded a liability of $350,000 on its 2003 financial results. Without this item, net income during
the fourth quarter would have been positive. Commented Dr. Amr Abdelmonem, CEO of ISCO
International, “ISCO’s outlook has been growing along with the improvements in the telecom sector.
Wireless demand continues to grow at a very strong rate, with data applications fueling an increasing
amount of that growth. Capital spending in wireless networks is expected to increase from the very low
levels of recent years. “Source:“ISCO INTERNATIONAL REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2003 RESULTS; GROSSMARGIN IMPROVES FROM 3% TO 49%”
ISCO International, Inc. press release (February 17, 2004)
http://www.iscointl.com/
ISCO International, Inc. (February 24, 2004)
ISCO International, Inc. announced that it has received US $ 2 million from existing investors
and has extended the due dates of existing notes until April 2005. Regarding the extended credit line

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―3−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

agreement, interest on the original $ 4 million will be increased to 14% as of April 1, 2004, to match theinterest rate on a $ 2 million supplement. No further warrants will be issued in connection with the extension,and the potential for borrowing the remaining $ 1 million specified by the agreement remains available, atthe discretion of the lenders.
ISCO International has also settled the litigation with its former CEO, Edward Laves. The case
had been scheduled to go to trial in March 2004. Mr. Laves will receive $700,000, half of which will be paidby ISCO and the other half by ISCO’s insurance carrier.
Source:“ISCO International Announces Financing and Litigation Settlement”
ISCO International, Inc. press release (February 24, 2004)
http://www.iscointl.com/

Basic
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (February 12, 2004)
Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found a hidden pattern incuprate superconductors that may help to explain the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity.
The researchers used scanning tunneling microscopy to examine the motions of electrons in thepseudogap state and found that when cuprate superconductors were heated above their criticaltemperature, the orderly pairing of electrons was replaced not by randomness, but by a distinct type of
movement in which the electrons organize themselves into a “checkerboard” pattern. The findings imply
that two types of electron organization, coherent motion and spatial organization, are in competition incopper oxides. This concept may provide valuable insight into the mystery of high-temperature
superconductivity. The researchers published their results in the online version of Science on February 12,
2004. The Central Research Institute of the Electric Power Industry in Japan was a collaborator on thisproject.
Source:“Hidden order found in cuprates may help explain superconductivity”
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign press release (February 12, 2004)
http://www.news.uiuc.edu/news/04/0212yazdani.html(Akihiko Tsutai, Director, International Affairs Department, ISTEC)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―4−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : ISS2003 Topics- The 16th International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS 2003) The International Superconductivity Technology Center (ISTEC) held the 16th International Symposiumon Superconductivity(ISS 2003) at the Tsukuba International Congress Center for three days from Monday,
October 27 through Wednesday, October 29, 2003. ISS is held annually and saw its 16th anniversary thisyear. The purpose of ISS is to promote the development and commercialization of superconducting
technology, spread the use of the technology among the general public, and familiarize the general publicwith the technology. These goals are accomplished through domestic and overseas research onsuperconductivity, presentation of results obtained from technological development, and international
exchange. A total of 637 people from 15 countries including 85 overseas participants attended this
symposium. There was an increase in the number of participants from the U.S.A., China, and Korea. There
were a total of 444 presentations and sessions, which were composed of 123 oral sessions and 321 poster
sessions, including 59 Invited speakers. This is an increase of 23 over the last year. Papers from thesymposium will be published as a special issue of Physica C (Elsevier B.V.), an academic journal. At thesame time, 11 companies exhibited superconducting materials, products, and technology.
On the first day, an opening address was given by
Prof. Shoji Tanaka, Vice president of ISTEC, and thecongratulatory address of the Minister of Economy,
Trade, and Industry was given by Mr. Bunro Shiozawa,
Deputy Director-General for Industrial Science andTechnology Policy and Environment Bureau, METI.
Then, 2 special plenary lectures and 6 plenary lectures
were delivered, with Dr. Masashi Tachiki (National
Institute for Materials Science) and Dr. M. Nisenoff (M.
Nisenoff Associates), both of whom are program
chairpersons, presiding. Dr. Shirabe Akita of the Central
Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI)
and Dr. J. Spargo of Northrop Grumman Space
Prof. Shoji Tanaka, vice-president of ISTECTechnology delivered special plenary lectures on “HTS
delivering an opening address
Technologies in Electric Power Applications” and“Superconducting Digital Electronics in the U.S.”. Prof. D. C. Larbalestier of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison gave a plenary lecture on “Enhancing The Upper Critical Field of MgB2,” Dr. R. A.
Hawsey of Oak Ridge National Laboratory on “Overview of U.S. Developments in Coated Conductors,”
Dr. Yuh Shiohara of ISTEC-SRL on “Progress and Future Prospect of R&D on Coated Conductors inJapan,” Prof. Uichiro Mizutani of Nagoya University on “Recent Progress in Synthesis of Bulk
Superconductor and Its Application,” Dr. C. Foley of CSIRO on “Using SQUIDs for Mineral Exploration- a
Review and Case Study,” and Dr. Keiji Tsukada of Hitachi, Ltd. on “LTS & HTS SQUID Systems for
Magnetocardiography.” A banquet was held in the evening and the participants enjoyed the banquet andlively discussion.
On the second and third days, oral presentations were given and two poster sessions were held under 4categories of physics & chemistry and vortex physics; bulks/system applications; wires & tapes/system

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―5−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

applications; and films & junctions/electronic devices. The participants had earnest discussions in thesepresentations and sessions.
In the physics and chemistry session, two mini-symposiums titled “A New Turn of Strong Correlation
Physics” and “Interactions in Superconducting State of a High-Tc Cuprates” were held where the latest
topics, such as new superconducting materials and elucidation of the superconducting mechanism of ahigh-Tc copper oxide, were discussed. In the bulk/system applications session, the latest topics including
magnetic levitation at the liquid oxygen temperature and manufacturing of large bulks in microgravity as wellas the recent findings in the application of superconducting bearings, a superconducting electric generator,
and a movable magnetic separator to a flywheel were reported and discussed. For the wires &tapes/system applications session, the newest development results concerning wire and tape using IBAD
and RABiTS – two major processes in the U.S.A. and Japan, and the application of superconductivity topower equipment, were reported and lively discussions were held. In the films & junctions/electronic devices
session, the development of the microprocessor by using SFQ devices, the application of superconducting
devices to microwave equipment, extensive application of SQUID, and others were reported.
In the afternoon of the third day, Prof. Masao Ogata of The University of Tokyo summarized thepresentations in the physics & chemistry and vortex physics session, Prof. Masato Murakami of the
Shibaura Institute of Technology in the bulks/system applications session, Dr. R. A. Hawsey of Oak Ridge
National Laboratory in the wires & tapes/system applications session, and Dr. Keiichi Tanabe of
ISTEC-SRL in the films & junctions/electronic devices session. Lastly, Prof. Tanaka, the director general of
SRL, who was chairperson of the organizing committee of ISS 2003, gave the closing address, looking
forward to meeting again at ISS 2004, which is scheduled to meet in Niigata City for three days from
November 23 through 25, 2004. The curtain fell on a successful ISS 2003.

(Masaharu Saeki, Director, Research & Planning Department, ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the December 2003 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)
Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―6−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : ISS2003 Topics- Physics and Chemistry -Two mini-symposiums in physics and chemistry session were held.
The recently discovered new superconductors and new phenomena in the strongly correlated systems
like high-temperature superconductors were reported in a mini-symposium, which was titled “A New Turn ofStrong Correlation Physics.” Dr. Takada of the National Institute for Materials Science reported a newsuperconductor of water-intercalated cobalt oxide. The new superconductor is characterized by a triangular
crystal lattice, which is a unique characteristic conventional superconductors do not have. There are many
similarities between the new superconductor and a high-temperature superconductor, such as strong
two-dimensionality. This superconductor of cobalt oxide is interesting from the viewpoint of the newmagnetic ordered state and new superconductivity symmetry such as the f wave. A mechanism of
superconductivity appearing as a result of an increase in inter-layer distance by inserting water molecules isalso of great interest. There is also much uncertainty about it including whether the insertion of matter otherthan water shows superconductivity or not and how much two-dimensionality is required. Much is expectedof future research for a solution to these problems. A great variety of new superconductors including organicand plutonium-containing superconductors were introduced.
Another mini-symposium, titled “Interactions in Superconducting State of High-Tc Cuprates,” was held
based recent experiment results. Much of the debate centered on the question of which is the mostimportant interaction in the superconducting state, the magnetic interaction or that with a lattice. Prof.
Takahashi of Tohoku University claimed that the kink structure of an energy dispersion curve observed inangle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy is of magnetic origin, while Prof. Lanzara at UC Berkeley
asserted a conflicting view that it is caused by the interaction with a lattice. Prof. Keller from Zurich
introduced the results of an experiment of an oxygen isotope effect seen in a magnetic penetration depth.
This experiment suggests that a superconducting mechanism may relate to the interaction with a lattice.
There were also detailed reports on the abnormal behavior of a lattice observed by neutron and X-ray
scattering experiments. Both interactions seem to be too large to ignore. It will take more time to finallyjudge which is involved in the formation of a cooper pair in superconductivity.
In a session of vortex physics, the flux behavior in a system having a nanostructure was focused. In
particular, there were three reports on the simulation results for the flux behavior that occurs spontaneously
at the interface between an s-wave and a d-wave superconductor, which suggests a possibility as a newflux quantum device.
(Setsuko Tajima, Director, Division of Material Science & Physics and Noriko Chikumoto, Division ofMaterial Science & Physics, SRL/ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the December 2003 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)
Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―7−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : ISS2003 Topics- Bulks/System Applications -This section describes some topics in the bulks/system applications session.
SRL reported a technique to improve the critical current density, which is a basic characteristic, of a bulk
body in a simple and effective way. The critical current density of a bulk body has so far been to the order oftens of thousands of A/cm2 at 77 K in a zero magnetic field. Finely ground RE211 particles to be used as
raw material with a ZrO2 ball mill enhanced the density to hundreds of thousands of A/cm2. This has beenachieved in the (Gd, Y) 123 series and (Nd, Eu, Sm) 123 series. An ultra-fined RE211 phase wasrecognized in the microstructural observation after a crystal growth. From the observation of TEM, it was
discovered that compounds of several tens of nanometers containing the element of Zr are dispersed inlarge quantities. These microscopic compounds may have contributed to the enhancement of the criticalcurrent density. In particular, the (Nd, Eu, Sm) 123 series shows a critical current density of a hundred
thousand A/cm2 at 77 K and 3T and a critical current density of several tens of thousands of A/cm2 in liquid
oxygen at 90K too. This series may be applied to a liquid oxygen pump and other devices. Someexperiments on magnetic levitation and a fishing effect in liquid oxygen were also included in the report.
In addition, the strength of a magnetic field captured by a bulk body has been increasing. A magnetic
field at 77 K exceeded 2T in the RE123 series substituting various light rare-earth elements and a captured
magnetic field of 3.05T was recorded in the Gd123 series. Since a decrease in the temperature of amaterial enhances its critical current density, a captured magnetic field may improve. The research anddevelopment up to now has not yielded the intended results because of the destruction of a bulk body by
the hoop force applied to it when a magnetic field is captured or the generation of heat caused by flux
movement. The enhancement in mechanical properties and discharge of heat, however, by combining
resin impregnation with metal impregnation, has enabled a material of Y123 series to capture a magnetic
field of 17.25 T at 29 K by applying a static magnetic field of 17.9 T.
Much basic research on the application of a bulk body was reported. Hitachi Ltd. and Kyushu ElectricPower Co., Inc. are now developing the magnetic separator. It is expected that the separator will have awide range of potential uses in various fields and is nearing practical use. According to this presentation,
separation using a bulk body, which is quite efficient, will find wide application in many fields if it is morecost-effective than other separation techniques. Although separation using a bulk body still has substantial
area for improvement such as the optimization of absorbing agents, depending on the material, and thestrengthening of the magnetic field, much is expected of this technique. Film formation onto materials or
pores, which was impossible with conventional equipment, has been made possible in the application of asuperconductor to magnetron sputtering, which is carried out by Nagoya University and collaborators. Thisapplication is characteristic of the utilization of superconductors, which is of great interest to me.
(Naomichi Sakai, Bulk Superconductor Laboratory, Division of Materials Science & Physics, SRL/ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the December 2003 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)
Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―8−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : ISS2003 Topics- Wires & Tapes/System Applications Two full days were spent on the sessions on “Wires & Tapes/System Applications” in parallel with eachother and there were lively debates. There were over 30 oral presentations including plenary. Among them,approximately 25 sessions addressed process, and three quarters of them related to next-generation wires,
which are RE (rare-earth elements) system tapes. In addition to process, there were also four or fivesessions concerning characterization and application. In a special plenary, Dr. Akita of CRIEPI reviewed theapplication of high-temperature superconductivity to electric power, giving the impression that the action ismoving to a more application-oriented sphere. The following summarizes the presentations related tonext-generation tapes.
Various methods are available to achieve the biaxial orientation structure necessary for developing
next-generation tapes. One distinctive characteristic of this conference is that much of the research anddevelopment, which is nearing the completion of long and high-performance tapes, is being integrated into
a technology using Ni-system textured substrates and IBAD buffer layers. For the IBAD buffer layer
formation technology, Dr. Arendt of LANL proposed that Al2O3 layer be added to the first layer for the
purpose of preventing oxygen diffusion in the IBAD-MgO layer and demonstrated the effect. Dr. Iijima of
Fujikura investigated the effect of the spread of assist ion beams in the IBAD formation technology of
Gd2Z2O7. His results, however, demonstrated that there is not much effect within the current use range. In
addition, Dr. Muroga of SRL examined the effect of materials on cap layers, which are effective in improving
the production rate. The improvement of the rate is a problem to be solved in the IBAD method. He provedthat CeO2 is the most effective and manufactured a 55m long substrate tape. For the effect of this CeO2 cap
layer, Dr. Kato of JFCC showed the investigation results from TEM observation. In particular, he clarified
some characteristic phenomena such as the formation of CeO2 of a larger grain size than in the initial stageof film formation. Although some ideas have been presented, the researchers have not reached aconclusive explanation of this mechanism under the present circumstances.
As a technology to form a superconducting film on a substrate using an IBAD buffer layer, the PLD
method is one of the most developed wire structures in Japan, U.S.A., and Europe. Dr. Arendt of LANL
succeeded in forming a thick YBCO-layer film on a substrate containing an IBAD-MgO layer, maintaining ahigh Jc. He explained that he had obtained 5µm thick films of a high value of 1000 A/cm-wide at 65 K.
Fujikura scored a great success in making wire longer. The company succeeded in manufacturing a 100m
long tape by forming YBCO films on an IBAD-GZO orientation buffer layer and Ic value of 38A. Some SRL
researchers including the present writer reported a high Ic value of 292 A as an actual current, which isaccomplished by forming a thick film on an IBAD substrate provided with a CeO2 cap through the MOD
method using TFA material as a process that may reduce the cost. We also reported an Ic value of 200A or
more at a length of 0.25 m through a continuous process. Dr. Kashima of Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
reported the results in manufacturing a 1-meter long tape having 40A at his first try by forming
superconducting films on an IBAD/CeO2 layer through the MOCVD method. IGC has been devoting itself todeveloping a technology to form a superconducting layer on an IBAD substrate through the MOCVD
method. IGC’s achievement of Ic of 111A at a length of 18 m was introduced in Dr. Hawsey’s plenary.
For the textured substrate system, Dr. Rupich of AMSC Inc. introduced a success in developing a wire

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―9−Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

through the TFA-MOD method as a tape using an alloy substrate such as Ni-W, which is being developed
by ORNL. It is a 10m long tape with high uniformity and has 184A as an end-to-end Ic. ORNL is also
working toward developing film forming technology called the All-MOD method in which all layers, including
a buffer layer, are manufactured by the MOD method. Although all MOD tapes are below 1 MA/cm2, somewires containing a MOD intermediate layer are close to 2 MA/cm2, which is high performance. Dr.
Hasegawa of Showa Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd. also reported on the All-MOD method, and hedemonstrated that the addition of Nb to a Ce-Gd-O buffer layer developed recently had improved thecharacteristics of the tapes.
For characterization, the presentation of Prof. Iwakuma of Kyushu University is of special note. He
compared a Bi-system tapes with other system tapes and demonstrated that the 4mm-wide Bi-system oftapes has an AC loss twofold or threefold greater than 4-mm-wide other system of tapes. Dr. Suenaga of
BNL maintained that the thickness of the superconducting layer greatly affects the loss in low magnetic
fields and thicker layers are more advantageous. In the special plenary lecture, Dr. Akita of CRIEPI reported
that people have high hopes for applying superconducting tapes, especially next-generation tapes, to
SMES, cables, current limiters, and others in the electric power field. Similarly, Dr. Neumller of Siemens
presented the trends in Europe. An achievement was also reported that AMSC manufactured a tapes
having a “Neutral Axis” structure for improving the workability and Southwire Company manufactured a
conductor using this wire on an experimental basis. Southwire Company succeeded in test-manufacturing
a spiral conducting cable using 24 wires and in passing an electric current of 4200A through it.
The above outlines the next-generation tapes. As I described at the start, we are making steadyprogress although we have still some challenges to overcome including the length, characteristics, andspeed. I have a feeling that in response to this progress, there is growing awareness of the application ofsuperconductivity. I am looking forward to seeing further developments.
(Teruo Izumi, Division of Superconducting Tapes and Wires, SRL/ISTEC)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―10−Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : ISS2003 Topics- Films & Junctions/ Electronic Devices There were over 110 presentations, an increase of approximately 30 over last year. This may be
because there were some presentations on new themes such as the superconducting quantum bit andbecause the national institutions where this symposium was held played an important role.
It was of interest to note that there was an attempt to control lattice defects on an RE-123 thin film andthe nanostructure of precipitates and to improve Jc in a magnetic field by a group including Kyoto University,
Yamagata University, The University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, and AIST, which aims at the application
to wires, not at the application to devices. The NTT group had been reporting a high-quality
superconducting thin film manufactured by strictly controlling the composition through the MBE method. In
this symposium, the group reported that an Nd-123 large sized thin film manufactured by the same method
shows a high-frequency surface resistance lower than that of commercial Y-123 thin films and that ahigh-quality film (Tc=41 K) of infinite-layer Sr0.9La0.1CuO2, which is an n-type superconductor, can be formed
on a lattice-matched substrate.
In the junction area, it is worthy to note the research on the effect of d-wave symmetry in an SIS junction
at which two Bi-2212 whisker crystals cross at an angle of inclination (NIMS) as well as the manufacturingof an Nd-123 bi-crystal junction by the Tri-phase epitaxy method by which a crystalline thin film close to asingle crystal can be obtained (NIMS, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, and others). An
achievement was also reported that a [100]-tilt bi-crystal junction using a (Hg,Re)-1212 thin film having Tc
around 120 K showed a high IcRn product of 1.4 mV at 77 K and 0.4 mV at 100 K.
Various applications were reported in the SQUID area: the exploration of minerals in Australia andCanada was reported by Dr. Foley of CSIRO, a plenary lecturer; the development of the cardiac magnetic
field inspection system was reported by Dr. Tsukada of Hitachi, Ltd.; a test for foreign substances such as
injection needles mixed in meat and a nondestructive test on carbon fiber composite material waspresented by Toyohashi University of Technology, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., and others; animmunodiagnostics system using magnetic particulates was reported by Kyushu University; and the
SQUID microscope with improved sensitivity from micro-vibrating samples was presented by Osaka City
University and NIMS. The application of a superconducting filter to a booster installed where radio signals
have difficulty reaching such as in tunnels and underground shopping malls, which was reported by Hitachi
Kokusai Electric Inc., was also worthy of note as a new application in the microwave area. In the digital area,
remarkable progress was reported in the niobium-based SFQ circuit and the process development in the
U.S.A. and Japan. In Japan, some groups (SRL, Nagoya University, Yokohama National University, andCRL) have made it possible to operate various 5,000-junction-class circuits at 20 to 50 GHz by cell-based
design, with a shared cell library. In addition, since a CAD tool to automatically decide the optimum cellarrangement has been developed. 100,000-junction-class circuit design will also become possible. A
60,000-junction-class microprocessor circuit called FLUX was test-manufactured by Northrop Grumman
and other companies in the U.S.A, but it is not yet in full operation. The U.S.A. has a little more experiencein the multi-chip module (MCM) and low-temperature high-frequency packaging technology than othercountries. In the future, the competition to demonstrate superconducting systems that surpass
semiconductors in performance, as well as to develop a next-generation integrated circuit process, will
become increasingly fierce.
(Keiichi Tanabe, Director, Division of Electronic Devices, SRL/ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the December 2003 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)
Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―11−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : ISS2003 Topics- Exhibition At the 16th International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS 2003) site, an exhibition was held that
displaying superconductivity-related products from 11 domestic organizations in the industrial world for threedays from Monday, October 27 through Wednesday, October 29 2003. Products including materials,
devices, panels showing applied research and present product development, measuring instruments for
manufacturing, evaluation equipment and others were on display. Some booths had products including thinfilms, wires, bulk materials, substrates for manufacturing, refrigerating machines, and measuring devices,while others had some panels showing the latest technological developments in each area or video
showing the development and manufacturing of SMES. The exhibition covered a wide range of topics. The
product display held our interest from beginning to end.
Exhibitors and Major Exhibits
・K&R Creation Co., Ltd.
YBCO Thin Films, Substrates for Superconductors, and others
・Tateho Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.
MgO Crystal Ingot, MgO Single Crystal Block, MgO Single Crystal Substrate
・Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.
Superconducting Materials (Synthetic Oxide Powder, Large Sized Melt Processed Bulk, Target, Paste,
Bi2223 Thick Film)・Nippon Steel Corporation
High Temperature Bulk Superconductors and others
・IMURA MATERIAL R&D CO., LTD.
Cryocoolers and others
・Marubun Corporation
Large-area Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)
systems and others
・NEC R&D Technical Support Center
Superconducting Device Measuring Instruments
and others
・Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
Bi2223 Superconducting Wire and others
・Fujikura Ltd.
YBCO HTS Wires and others
・Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc.
1 kWh/1MW SMES and others
・Superconductivity Research Laboratory/ISTEC
Scene from the Exhibition
Coated Conductors Fabricated by TFA-MOD,YBCO Current Leads and others(Nobuhiko Shimizu, Research & Planning Department, ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the December 2003 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)
Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―12−Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : SMES
- Development of Cost Reduction Technology for SMES -Among superconductivity technology applications for electric power, SMES (Superconducting
Magnetic Energy Storage) is higher in energy storage efficiency and input and output speed thanconventional energy storage. We can expect various effects from SMES, which has such excellent
properties as stabilizing the electric power system and maintaining the quality of electric power.
There is an increase today in dispersed power sources caused by progress toward deregulating
retail electricity sales and a demand for higher electric power system control technology triggered bygreat power fluctuation loads and increases in electric power sources. In response, technologicaldevelopment has focused on SMES for controlling small-scale systems for applications in systemstabilization, load fluctuation compensation, and frequency regulation, which has potential market
needs and a high possibility for commercialization. The main challenge to development is reducing
costs. NEDO commissioned the development of technology to lower the cost of superconducting
coils and other materials to ISTEC, which carried out development from fiscal 1999 to 2003.
On the basis of the technological development conducted so far, the structure and system of the
conductor and coil, which will help to reduce the SMES costs and are the most suitable to eachapplication, were decided. Furthermore, considering the results, peripheral equipment as well as amodel coil (refer to the following table) with basic specifications such as the same maximum
experience magnetic field, rated current, and other factors as those of an actual SMES for controllingsystems was manufactured and assembled, and a performance verification test including
current-carrying characteristics, stability, and critical performance was conducted. As a result, theworld’s first 10,000 times, composed of 5,000 charges and 5,000 discharges, of repeated passages(10 MJ model coil for load fluctuation compensation and frequency regulation) of a current of 10 kA
and a high-speed current passing test (model coil for system stabilization) of 2 kA/s weresuccessfully conducted. The results were obtained as designed and there was stable operability inspite of current changes more violent than were expected. The compatibility between the cost andperformance of superconducting coils to put SMES for controlling systems to practical use has beenverified. These achievements demonstrate that SMES technology has taken strides towardcommercialization as power system control equipment.

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―13−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Table Specifications of model coil for verification test
Item
Conductor system

System stabilization
Aluminum stabilizing NbTi CIC

Load fluctuation compensation andfrequency regulation
NbTi stabilizing copper
separation CIC
10.8MJ

Maximum stored energy

2.85MJ

Coil size
Outer diameter x
inner diameter x length
Number of turns(Unit coil)1108 x 400 x 519 mm(Unit coil)
1126 x 600 x 511 mm

24 turns x 16 layers

24 turns x 12 layers

14

Number of coils
Coil arrangement

Single solenoid arrangement(10.8 MJSMES represents
multipolar arrangement.)

Multipolar solenoid
arrangement

Operating current

9.6kA

10kA

Operating voltage

2kV

2kV

Maximum magnetic field

5.66T

4.8T

CryostatFeatures of coil(Inner diameter x height)
1650 x 3075 mm･Design of a high magnetic field･Stabilized aluminum surface
oxidation strand･Conductor grading･Forced cooling by SHe(Inner diameter x height)
3300 x 1700 mm･Design of a low magnetic field･Stabilized copper external
separation primary twisted wire･Forced cooling by SHe

Scene from element
model coil test

Test site

Imajuku General Test Center of Superconductivity Test Center ofKyushu Electric Power Co., Inc.
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

(Seiichi Koso, Director, Research & Planning Department, ISTEC)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―14−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : SMES
- A Technical Survey of High-Temperature Superconducting SMES Atsushi Ishiyama, Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience
Waseda University
Since 1999, we have engaged in a five-year project called the Technical Development ofSuperconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES). The project, commissioned by NEDO, is scheduled
for completion this year. During the research project, we have engaged in technical research on SMES.
When a high-temperature superconductive coil is applied to SMES, operation temperatures are available ina broad range of high temperatures, compared with when low-temperature metal wires are used for coils.
This broad temperature range of the SMES is characterized as having a number of possible applications.
For example, the SEMS system could be applied to conduction cooled refrigerator systems. SMES has alarge temperature margin and a large thermal capacity, bringing about thermal stability and large excessive
load withstand capacity (pulsed excessive current). These advantages are likely to contribute to cuts in
manufacturing costs and operation costs (cooling costs) and to improve operation and control.
The Technical Research of High-Temperature Superconducting SMES has focused on large current
conducting technology for SMES, magnet technology, conceptual design examination, technical trends ofhigh-temperature superconducting SMES in Japan and overseas, while conducting technical researchbased on assessment and experimentation when necessary from time to time. Concerning large-current
conducting technology, we mainly experimented with and assessed mechanical features of a transposed
conductor where a Bi-2212 Rutherford conductor and a Bi-2223 tape wire are integrated. Concerningmagnetic technology, we confirmed, through a small coil for assessment, that pulsed excessive current
exceeding the critical current value was available under refrigerator conductivity cooling. The thermal
behavior of the coil is predictable (availability of design). In addition, we developed an inner cooling system
where a pulse tube refrigerator and a current lead are integrated to cool the area of high electrical pressure,
to demonstrate that electrical insulation is available without vacuum. The development of a large-capacity
current lead with little thermal intrusion is extremely important for element technology. In our conceptual
design, we formed an optimal designing methodology for SMES coils by using a Bi-2223 wire and a
Y-system wire that have anisotropism in critical current features when a magnetic field is applied.
Concerning high-temperature superconducting SMES where a toroidal coil system consisting of 12 piecesof element coils, made of Bi-2212, Bi-2223, and Y-system wire, is applied, we demonstrated a conceptual
design and a parameter survey in anticipation of a 100 MW/15 kWh-class SMES and load compensation
for system stability, and a 100 MW/500 kWh-class SMES for frequency arrangement. The results confirmedthat the necessary wire volume and operation costs (cooling costs) could be smaller and less in atemperature range of 10 K or less for the Bi-2212, and in a broad temperature range of 20 K through 50 K
for the Y-system wire, compared with existing low-temperature metal wires. Concerning high-temperature
conducting SMES development activities outside Japan, Ansaldo (Italy) is scheduled to make a 50
kJ-SMES prototype to conduct experiments in its HOTSMES project (2003-2005). Trithor (Germany) is also
engaging in developing an SMES coil for UPS applications, which uses a Bi-2223 wire to produce 30 kJ/40
kW.

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―15−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

We are going to conclude our five-year technical research project this year. At the same time, we will
select technical subjects and make recommendations for development guidelines to materialize an optimal
high-temperature superconducting SMES coil.
An SMES system is the superconductor-applied power equipment that is the most expected to comeinto existence in the near future. However, 30 years have passed since Electrotechnical Laboratory andWaseda University conducted the first SMES experiment in Japan. The time has come to leave "research
for research" and build a system that can withstand practical applications in terms of performance and cost.
Such a system can be built when engineers and researchers, involved in developing superconductivity andlow-temperature technologies, succeed in mobilizing their knowledge and experience with enthusiasm.

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―16−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : SMES
- Ongoing Development and Outlook for Practical Application The United States and some European countries have introduced 1 to 3 MJ-class metal SMES systems
against instantaneous voltage drops. They are too far behind, however, to apply to Japan's electric systemin terms of capacity, specifications, and performance. The NEDO project has succeeded in operating acontinuous 10,000 ampere-class 10,000-time charge and discharge stabilization of a 10 MJ model coilsystem for Japan's electric control system. The successful operation of this class was the first in the world,
demonstrating Japan's notable capabilities in this area. Since Japan's success endorsed that coil cost andperformance are compatible, ongoing research will focus elsewhere than the coil, namely on integrating a
total SMES system and on the optimal electric system control technology before full-dressed practicalapplication of SMES is materialized into electrical areas.
The past research projects have narrowed down subjects for ongoing system development. Specifically,
NEDO has commissioned a development project of systematic integration between peripheral
implementation technologies for a large capacity AC-DC converter system and an unprecedented
large-capacity oxide material compact coil to ISTEC. This project is scheduled to start this year and will leadto another project to build up practical application technology through actual electric system link tests.
Amid ongoing deregulation, the increasing introduction of distributed power sources with different levelsof stability, and a growing number of electrical energy providers, stabilizing the electrical power network andmaintaining the quality are essential in supplying electrical energy to those who need it because electricenergy is a common asset for people's lives and for industrial activities. In particular, considering the New
York blackout in the summer of 2003 and unstable electric power supply networks in parts of European
countries in 2003, the maintenance and upgrade of electric power supply networks are increasingly
important in terms of social need. Under the circumstances, the possible application of SMES is a very
effective means to counter this problem because the technical advantages of SMES are clear; locations
can be flexibly chosen; and the economical outlook is already known.
As part of the ripple effects of the NEDO project that is applicable to the current level of electrical
technology, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. has already made a field-in of a 5000 kW SMES against
instantaneous voltage drops in its latest high-tech plant and formed an early commercialization program for
SMES. This is one of the pioneering cases of SMES in Japan. A roadmap to the practical application ofelectric power network control technology will undergo the development of systematization technology forthe coming four years or so before it will make a field-in in the actual electric system link system anddemonstrate reliability test results, followed by a movement of market-in of large-capacity SMES systems
which will be initiated by industrial circles. Since the future market size is predictable, NEDO's project
starting this year will lay the foundation for a steadily growing market where a group of corporations in theprivate sector are concerned with applying SMES systems in their operations as a corporate resource.
(Yoshinori Tatsuta, Managing Director, ISTEC)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―17−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : SMES
- Development of SMES for Bridging Instantaneous Voltage Dips Shigeo Nagaya
LeaderSuperconductivity and New Materials TeamElectric Power Research and Development Center
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
The practical application of SMES is the most expected and nearest to coming into existence among
electric power equipment that use different types of superconductivity technologies. This is because theenergy storage method of SMES, which has been researched for a long time, matches the needs of Japan
today.
Until today, the development of SMES has been focused on electric power storage systems because of
its high efficiency compared with battery cells, and on large-scale day and night load leveling systems
because of the advantage deriving from its scale and size. SMES is characterized, however, as having anelectric power storage unit made of coils, allowing the storage unit to be formed only for the amount ofenergy necessary for its’ operation duties.
Semiconductor and LCD manufacturing plants, which have backed recent technological innovations of
information technology, are very concerned with measures to avoid instantaneous voltage dips ontransmission lines, which are caused chiefly by lightning. This is because the power supply quality leads tothe quality of semiconductor and LCD products; instantaneous voltage dips lead to producing defective
products. Moreover, instantaneous voltage dips could negatively impact the plant facility.
Almost all the present instantaneous voltage dips last 1 second or less in the electric system in Japan.
Thus, the operation duty of equipment for bridging instantaneous voltage dips targets a 1-secondcompensation against instantaneous
SMES (10MVA- 1 second)
voltage dips. The greatest feature of
2.3 m
135 m
SMES lies in having a 1-second
3.2 m
compensation for operation duty.
33 m
Other electric power storage units
5.2 msuch as capacitors have a shorter
compensation time of 0.1 to 0.2
seconds whereas battery cells have NaS battery 20 m
excessive electrical power storage (10MVA- 7 hours)
capacities such as hours or ten-odd
minutes for short-time storage
Redox flow battery
specifications.
6.6 m

Fig. 1 indicates a comparison ofelectric power storage units that can
output 10,000 kW for 1 second. The

Spring, 2004

35 m

(10MVA- 8 hours)

Fig.1 Comparison of Competitive Technologies(Batteries have applications to load leveling: Outputs of
10 MVA compared)© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―18−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

figure shows SMES, sodium sulfide (NaS) batteries, and redox flow batteries. As shown in the figure, theSMES is extremely compact for storing 1 second of electric power for compensation compared with theother batteries.
To apply this SMES characteristic, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. has installed a SMES system in thelatest LCD plant of Sharp Corporation, which was built recently in Mie Prefecture. The 5000 kW SMES
system is undergoing demonstration tests against instantaneous voltage dips. Figs. 2 and 3 depict the
specifications of the superconducting coils and external views of the system.

Major Specifications of the Coil
Coil arrangement

Quadrupole

Coil form

Close-coiled solenoid

Rated current

2657A

Rated voltage

2.5kV dc

Withstand voltage

6kV dcInductance

2.08H

Stored energy

7.34 MJ

Used energy

5.00MJ

Maximum magnetic field

5.3T

Coil
form

Inner radius

0.265mOuter radius

0.324mHeight0.700mCooling system

Sectioned of conductor structure

Quadrupole coils

LHe dip coolingCharacteristic:
Rutherford Conductor-Applied Pulse Coils
Dip Cooling of High-Withstand Voltage

CryostatFig. 2 Specifications and Characteristics of Superconducting Coils

This SMES system is characterized as outputting 5000 kW of power, which it can compensate with anentire load of a transformer. In other words, the SMES system can provide blanket compensation of electric
power for the entire plant, unlike UPS systems in the past. Since bridging instantaneous voltage dips
attenuates the current of superconducting coils, disconnecting the current to result in a zero value will
enable lowering the coil tolerance, which was necessary to avoid quenching in the past. This also leads tomanufacturing a compact SMES system. In addition, several small cryo-coolers can cool the coils of the
SMES system sufficiently. Operation and maintenance will also become easier, requiring no assignment of
personnel prescribed by law.
This demonstration test started from July 2003. The SMES system has continued operating well since
the demonstrative test, which started some six months ago. The test is scheduled to last until April 2005.
Precious findings and data from the test have been collected for practical application of the SMES system.

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―19−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. has been working on the development and application of a SMES
system and other superconductivity technologies. We hope that 2004 will be a significant year for thepractical application of superconductivity technology.

Fig.3

An External View of a Superconducting Coil System(Published in a Japanese version in the January 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―20−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : Superconducting Wires- Until Today and the Future When hearing the news on a Nobel Prize winner in a superconductivity related field in 2003, it reminded
me as a person concerned that superconductivity has been an attractive technology up until today andremains so for the future. Since the potential for this attractive technology remain unabated, people hope fora clear scenario where the practical application of the technology into wire is specified, considering thelengthy recession in Japan. Since some other articles refer to the detailed scenario, I would like to provide
an overview on recent superconducting wire, which will also lead to seeing the future.
Recent topics on metal wires include successful developments of an NbTi conductor (Furukawa ElectricCo., Ltd.) for LHC (accelerator of CERN) whose size is controlled in detail as well as an ITER-centeredsolenoid coil (CS coil: 46kA, 13T, 640MJ). Another successful development includes an Incoloy conduit
Nb3Sn conductor that can withstand 60 tons of electromagnetic force per meter (Japan Atomic Energy
Research Institute). In addition, recent research has been focusing on adding distinctive characteristics towire materials, such as Nb3Sn with a higher critical current density Jc (Tokai University), Nb3Al (National
Institute for Materials Science), and a high-reinforced Nb3Sn (Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.).
Concerning Bi system wires, Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. completed a 500-meter long cable in Yokosuka
Research Laboratory of CRIEPI at the end of 2003. A number of companies are currently working on
research for a higher Jc wire by improving thermal treatment (Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. American
Superconductor (AMSC)). InnoST in China also greatly raised the characteristics of a Bi system wire (90 Aof critical current on a 400-meter long wire, which was disclosed at the first Asian Conference on Applied
Superconductivity and Cryogenics (December 2003, Beijing)). Similarly, although Bi wire-applied cableprojects are thriving in the United States, the major obstacle is how to lower the manufacturing cost. The Jcof Bi-wire in magnetic fields is too low at the liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) to apply to high magnetic
fields.
MgB2 is a new material discovered in 2001. It has quickly been applied to wires. A number of companies
have succeeded in developing MgB2-applied wires, including a 10-meter long wire (SRL) and 100-meterlong wires (Hitachi, Ltd., National Institute for Materials Science). As the critical temperature of MgB2 isapproximately 38 K, researchers are focusing chiefly on improving its characteristics targeting 4.2 K
application. Recently, the National Institute for Materials Science has discovered an MgB2 wire whose
irreversibility field exceeds Nb3Sn wires (23 T at 4.2 K). Since its manufacturing is simple and the cost
seems low, MgB2 wires are likely to replace Nb3Sn wires in the future.

Next is YBCO wires. Since high-temperature superconductivity was discovered in 1986, researchers
focused on longer YBCO wires. Still, YBCO manufacturing methods for longer wires (bi-axially texturing
technology of YBCO crystal grains, IBAD (Fujikura), ISD (Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.), and others)
did not emerge until the first half of the 1990s. Development took a long time to handle advanced crystal
orientation technology. YBCO wires in magnetic fields in liquid nitrogen 77K are high in their Jc and have abroad range of application. As expected, Y-based high-temperature superconducting wire could be the front
runner. YBCO wires, backed by a superconducting application base development project, have recently

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―21−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

made rapid developments into practical application. They are at a crucial stage for practical application. In
2003, Fujikura announced a 100-meter-class IBAD wire. SRL succeeded in developing Self-Epitaxy
PLD-CeO2 (Ceria) method that accelerates the IBAD method before announcing a 100-meter classsubstrate. In the United States, AMSC developed a 10-meter class wire with a chemical solution method(TFA method) whose cost seems low. SRL has succeeded in confirming that this method is available forobtaining 292 A of critical current Ic at a practical level. The practical applications for wire are advancing.
Since future demonstrations will focus on tens to hundreds of meter class wires, researchers will mobilize
their development efforts centering on efficiency.
The major manufacturing methods for YBCO wires have been narrowed down to the IBAD and RABiTS
methods for substrate production while the manufacturing of superconducting layers have been narrowed
down to the PLD, TFA, and CVD methods. In addition to research for longer wire, the basic R&D describedin the NbTi, Nb3Sn, and Bi system paragraphs above are also necessary. For example, R&D activities are
urged for higher Jc, more strength, and lower alternative current loss for Nb3Sn and lower cost and higher
manufacturing rate for Bi system wire. In YBCO wire development, a 100-meter class YBCO wire has beensuccessfully developed with the IBAD method although it has not yet grown to a major superconducting
wire. Other methods could emerge as major methods through the R&D efforts mentioned above. Thus, wehave to accelerate basic research efforts for longer wire and short wire (higher Jc and improvement in the
manufacturing rate, which will lead to lower cost manufacturing).
NbTi wire and Nb3Sn wire are like adults who can earn money while Bi system wire can be used for
application demonstration equipment just like university students (who do part-time work). YBCO wires and
MgB2 wires are still like junior high school students who have many elements that need to be developed.
Although 100-meter class wires are at the practical application stage, many obstacles are still expected in
the way ahead before reaching success. The development history of materials is often compared to theStone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and so on. The successful development of materials greatly
impacts society. This is why Japan, the United States, and China are vigorously promoting material
development projects.
I visited China recently. So, finally, I would like to present my impressions on China today. InnoST Co.,
Ltd., an international venture capital, set up in 2000 in China, has already caught up to the level that Japanand the United States have achieved with Bi system wires. Their fast work astonished me. I had to reflect
on my attitude for R&D activities. As a Japanese researcher I must now seek new developments ahead ofother researchers and seek materials and technologies that cannot be imitated easily as well as specificpatentable technology. Otherwise, R&D activities seem to end up as meaningless.
(Yutaka Yamada, Director, Nagoya Coated Conductor Center, SRL/ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―22−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : Superconducting Wires- Development and Practical Application of Nb-system Superconducting
Wire Kazutomi Miyoshi
Superconducting Development Department
Research and Development Division
The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
Concerning the development and practical application of Nb-system superconducting wire, I would liketo introduce The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. as an example. The R&D on superconducting wires by ourcompany started some 37 years ago. Today, Furukawa Electric has grown to a major supplier ofsuperconducting wire, backed with its world-class technology and production capacity. Our main products
are classified into NbTi superconducting wire and Nb3Sn superconducting wire, both of which center on Nb
system material.
The production cost of NbTi superconducting wire, which function well for applying the magnetic fields of
8 T or less, is quite competitive. This wire is widely applied to magnets for magnetic resonance imaging
apparatus (MRI), semiconductor lifting equipment, and other appliances. The world market size of NbTi
superconducting wire has grown to 200 billion yen. The development of NbTi superconducting wire isbased on past step-by-step advancements. The characteristics of NbTi wire have been remarkably
improved through hot extrusion technology in the 1970s, multi-stage heat treatment technology in the
1980s, and high homogenious technology of NbTi material in the 1990s. The critical current density (Jc) of
the superconducting wire at 5 T reaches 3,000 A/mm2 or more. At present, a main technical improvementof NbTi wire is concerned with cost reduction and its quality, so the development widens its application
fields.
Under the circumstance, Furukawa Electric has recently succeeded in developing a low loss wire where
pulse-based operation is available. Specifically, the company can design and manufacture products thatembrace critical current characteristics and alternative current loss characteristics as well. An example ofthese products is a prototype for SMES magnets.
Meanwhile, Nb3Sn superconducting wires are chiefly used for the high magnetic field side and the hightemperature side rather than for NbTi superconducting wire. In recent years, Nb3Sn superconducting wire
has been applied to the high magnetic field side section for many NMR apparatus magnets. The
technological development of this superconducting wire has been focused on improvements in Jc andreinforcing mechanical characteristics. Furukawa Electric manufactures Nb3Sn superconducting wire by
applying the bronze process. To improve Jc value, a bronze matrix with high tin content and an appropriate
heat treatment technology are applied to the wire. For example, Jc value has been successfully achieved to
900 A/mm2 or higher at 12 T for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor).
Since the Nb3Sn superconducting wire is composed of an intermetallic compound, its superconducting
characteristics are sensitive to its strains. As demand for higher magnet fields, larger bore magnets, andSpring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―23−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

cryocooler-cooled magnets has been increasing, it is important to develop a reinforced Nb3Sn wires against
strong electromagnetic force. In cooperation with the Institute for Material Research of Tohoku University,
Furukawa Electric has succeeded in developing a new reinforced Nb3Sn superconducting wire, which has
300 MPa or more of strength, namely twice or more higher than the 0.2% strength of conventional Nb3Sn
superconducting wire. The reinforced Nb3Sn wire has high stability by compounding stabilization copperand NbTi reinforcement in the conventional Nb3Sn superconducting wire structure. This reinforced Nb3Sn
wire was officially adopted as the conductor for cryocooler-cooled hybrid magnets, which is now underconstruction in the Institute for Material Research of Tohoku University. The reinforced Nb3Sn wire with amass productivity is going to be applied to a wide practical application.
As mentioned above, Nb system superconducting wire--NbTi and Nb3Sn superconducting wire--are themajor wires for superconducting magnets in terms of performance and mass production scale. Theirtechnological development is unabated, opening the way to broader applications.

(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―24−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : Superconducting Wires- Practical Application of Bi-system Superconducting Wire Kazuhiko Hayashi
Manager
HTS R&D Department
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
(1) Bi-2212 Wire
Among Bi superconducting oxides, the Jc of a Bi-2212 wire whose Tc is 85 K in its low temperaturephase is characterized as high at 20 K or lower temperature and in high magnetic fields. A Bi-2212 tapewire of 0.3 mm x 3.5 mm with 2.0 of silver ratio stands at 400 kA/cm2 at 4.2 K in the self magnetic field, and151 kA/cm2 at 30 T. A Bi-2212 round wire with a diameter of 1.0 mm and 2.8 of silver ratio stands at 490
kA/cm2 in the self magnetic field, and 180 kA/cm2 at 20T. Their Ic falls at 1100 A and 400 A, respectively.
Since Bi-2212 superconducting wire is characterized as having distinctive features in low-temperatureand high magnetic fields, and the Bi-2212 wire can be easily form a round wire that can be assembled
for larger capacity, a 500-meter long conductor, composed of six stranded Bi-2212 wires of 1.0 mm indiameter, is used for a high-temperature superconducting coil for SMES. Eleven coils were layered to
execute excitation tests in 4.2 K of liquid helium. As a result, 560 kJ of stored energy at 550 A of reted
current was reported.

(2) BiPb-2223 Wire
The silver ratio of a BiPb-2223 tape wire which has a Tc of 110K stood at 3 or so in the past. Recent
development, however, has enabled the tape wire even with 1.5 to 2.0 of silver ratio to form a 1000-meter or
longer wire. Such a BiPb-2223 tape wire at 77 K in the self magnetic field reaches an Ic of 100 A or more.
As a result, diverse prototypes were made for assessment, some of which have been used for practicalapplication.
Among these applications, a current lead is fixed in some superconducting synchrotron radiationequipment for safe operation and reducing liquid helium consumption. Encouraged by the economic effects,
a large-capacity current lead has been developed recently to apply to a current capacity of 60 kA for nuclear
fusion.
Concerning magnets, a high-rate excitation characteristic of 7 tesla per minute is developed to use for a
research tool in chemical reaction and new magnetic science fields. In addition, Toshiba Corporation,
Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., have jointly succeeded in developinga magnet for pulling silicon single crystals, which was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Industry
for energy-saving. Assessment with the actual size has ended in success. This magnet, the largest in theworld as a high-temperature superconducting magnet, has a stored energy of 1.1 MJ. The success opened
the door for broader applications in areas of industry, medical field, transportation, and electric power thatcan use Bi-2223 superconducting wire.

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―25−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Diverse kinds of Bi-2223 superconducting wire prototypes have been developed for electric power
applications. Among them, application to transformers is expected to have remarkable effects in terms ofenergy-savings and in-vehicle application that seeks light-weight equipment. The Bi-2223 superconducting
wire is characterized as being nonflammable because no oil is used for the insulator for thesuperconducting wire. Thus, researchers are focusing on developing Bi-2223 superconducting wire. Power
cables are expected to be an effective and compact means of large power transmission in urban areas with
dense populations. When high-temperature superconducting cables are used for transmitting electricenergy, no large sized tunnels (diameter: 3 to 5 meters) are needed to install them, unlike existing power
cables. Since such superconducting cables can be enclosed in ducts with diameters of 15 cm or so, other
underground zones can be left for different applications. Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. and Sumitomo
Electric Industries, Ltd. jointly constructed the first 100-meter long, three-core packaged, 114 MVA (66 kV, 1kA) power cable system in the world. The companies conducted initial testing, rated load conduction testing,performed load variable testing, and carried out excess load testing over one year to demonstrate thelong-term electrical performance and cooling performance.

(3) Challenging Subjects and Outlooks for the Future
Concerning BiPb-2223 wire, we reported that a overpressure sintering method improved the filamentdensity, which also led to improving the critical current density, mechanical characteristics, andanti-ballooning characteristics against liquid nitrogen as well. The BiPb-2223 wire is the only
high-temperature superconducting wire that is produced through industrial manufacturing. Improvement inproduction cost and performance is expected to accelerate practical application.
Meanwhile, reducing AC loss is essential for AC use. Since Bi-2212 wire and BiPb-2223 wire havealready been made into multifilamentally wire, a technological development project is underway to
substantially reduce alternative current loss. An example is to raise the vertical resistance rate ofsuperconducting filaments and twist them to cut the electromagnetic coupling between the filaments. Thiscan be achieved by forming a high-resistant barrier layer around the superconducting filaments.

(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―26−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : Superconducting Wires- Development of Y-System Superconducting Wire Y-system superconductors need to control the three-dimensional orientations of crystal grains in order toexhibit their essential characteristics. There are two major technologies for orienting the grains up to thebuffer layer in the layered structure of the Y-system superconducting tapes. One is a special technology toform an oriented buffer layer and the other is a technology to form a textured metal substrate. These
technologies are subdivided into several implementation techniques. One of the former technologies is the
IBAD method that Fujikura has developed, while the latter is the RABiT method which adopts adhesion.
In Japan, a national R&D project was started at 1998. Successively, another national R&D project wascontinued in 2003 with a new formation. Development activities based on the IBAD method succeeded informing a 100m long tape with Ic value of 38A where a superconducting layer is formed on the Gd2Zr2O7
buffer layer by using the PLD method. One of the problems to be solved in the IBAD method is the slow
processing speed. This, however, is solved by forming a CeO2 layer, as a cap layer, on the IBAD layer,
which dramatically shortens the processing time. The cap layer contributes to fast processing and improves
the texturing. In addition to the PLD method, concerning the formation technology of a superconducting layeron the IBAD buffer layer, the TFA-MOD and MO-CVD methods are also being examined. For the TFA-MOD
method, the technological development of thicker layers for higher Ic values achieved in forming a layer withhigh Ic value of 291A in a short sample while technological development of a 0.25 m-long tape achieved Ic
value of 210A as an end-to-end characteristics using a reel-to-reel system. Meanwhile, the MO-CVD
method has realized 2MA/cm2 short tape at the rate of 10 m/h in the initial development stage, boosting
expectations for future development.
Concerning development activities based on an orientation substrate as the foundation, development isunderway using Ni clad materials. In addition, the SOE method has been developed, which causesorientated oxidation of the surface on the orientation substrate to form a buffer layer. This method has
achieved Jc value of 1MA/cm2 in a short sample. In addition, a trial was made to form all layers on theorientation substrate in the MOD method at a low cost process. Adding Gd and Nb to CeO2 has formed an
buffer layer that prevents cracks and dispersions of metal elements.
The United States and some European countries have been promoting R&D activities based on theabovementioned IBAD and RABiT methods. For example, the United States has achieved in forming a
superconducting layer by the TFA-MOD method on a textured substrate with several buffer layer by thephysical vapor deposition technique. The method has enabled making a 10m long tape with Ic value of
184A. The tapes were also used to demonstrate the cable. Specifically, 24 tapes were made into a 1.25m
long conductor where 4.2 kA of direct current was successfully conducted. Meanwhile, in development
activities that use the IBAD method as the foundation, MgO-applied process development is underway
which enables high-speed formation of layers, succeeding in developing Ic value of 423A in a short sample.
A combination of the IBAD method with the MO-CVD method has also successfully achieved in forming an
18m long tape with Ic value of 111A. In European nation, higher Ic of 223 A/cm in a 10m long tape wasrealized by the IBAD and PLD methods.
As mentioned above, Japan, the United States, and Europe have been engaging in fierce development

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―27−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

competition. Five years ago, the formation of a 1m long tape was regarded as successful. Now, several
institutions can form tape that is tens of meters long or even over 100 meters long. Accordingly, researchers
are focusing on developing technology with considering the applications. Such tapes, however, still needs
improvement in its characteristics, production rate, and length. Reducing production cost is also anotherchallenging subject that must be solved soon.
(Teruo Izumi, Division of Superconducting Tapes and Wires, SRL/ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―28−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Feature Articles : Superconducting Wires- Critical Magnetic Field of MgB2 Wire Made with the PIT Method Hiroaki Kumakura
Superconducting Materials Center
National Institute for Materials Science
MgB2 superconductors have the advantages of high Tc, and there not being any weak couplings among
the crystal grains, unlike high-temperature oxide superconductors. Thus, since orientation of crystal grains
is not required, a relatively simple wire manufacturing method is available, contributing to low manufacturingcosts. The low price of the raw material is also advantageous. Researchers around the MgB2 world are now
focusing on R&D on MgB2 wire. This research group is also engaging in R&D on an MgB2 wire with thepowder-in-tube (PIT) method. We have found that an SiC-added MgB2 wire has a critical magnetic field
similar to that of Nb3Sn.
We made this wire with a method called "in situ" among the PIT methods, by filling a mixed powder ofMg and B in a metal tube to process and perform heat treatment. Our method, however, uses MgH2
powder instead of the Mg powder normally applied as a raw material. MgH2 powder accelerates MgB2
production to realize a high critical current density of Jc.
We mixed the MgH2 powder with B powder, which is available on the commercial market, and then filled
the mixture into a metal tube (pure iron) before cold-working it into a tape. The initial mixture powder had an
addition of SiC fine grains of 5-10 mol%. This addition of SiC fine grains had also been reported by aresearch group of Professor Dou at Wollongong University in Australia. The research group indicated thatthe addition had some improvement in Jc. After processing it into the tape, we heat treated it at 600 to
650°C for an hour in an argon gas atmosphere. The temperature of this heat treatment was considerably
lower than the heat treatment temperature for ordinary MgB2 wire, which is 800 to 900°C. This is because
the lower temperature of heat treatment enables a higher Jc although Tc becomes lightly lower. In addition,
this low temperature heat treatment in a short time is likely to contribute to reducing wire production
manufacturing costs.
We measured the Jc of this wire at 4.2 K with the hybrid magnet at the Tsukuba Magnet Laboratory in
the National Institute for Materials Science. SiC-added tape showed Jc of 20,000 A/cm2 or more at 10 T,
which is the highest level ever achieved in the world for MgB2 wire. In addition, we defined irreversibility field
Birr in a magnetic field where Jc stands at 10 A/cm2. The Birr of tape without SiC added stood at 17 T,
whereas the Birr of the tape with an addition of 10 mol% of SiC stood at 23 T, which is comparable to theupper critical magnetic field Bc2 of Nb3Sn, which is made with the bronze method and is available on thecommercial market. The magnetic field was applied to the tape surface in parallel. Since the orientation of
MgB2 crystals in this tape was random, we assumed that no anisotropy of Birr was caused by the directionof the applied magnetic field. It was reported that the Bc2 of single crystals at 4.2 K stood at some 14 T on
the B//a and b surfaces, and at 3 T or over on the B//c axis. The Birr values of the tape without an addition
and the SiC-added tape stood considerably high compared with the Bc2 of single crystals. This seems tohave been because the low heat treatment temperatures of 600 to 650°C led to imperfect MgB2
crystallization and Tc stood at a maximum 33 K, a fairly low value compared with that of the single crystals.

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―29−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

In other words, MgB2 invited defects as the heat treatment temperature lowered, which subsequently led to
an increase in Bc2 and caused an increase in Birr. As discussed above, changes in the Bc2 and Birr of MgB2
seem to depend on the heat treatment temperature. That is, controlling Bc2 and Birr seem easier than Nb3Sn.
As is seen in a report where 40 T or over of Bc2 of a thin film was already available, we hope that the Birr ofwire can be raised higher.

(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―30−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Superconductivity Related Product Guide- Superconducting Wire- (Corporations in Japanese syllabary order)[Nb-Ti-Alloy Composite Superconducting Wire]-- Japan Superconductor Technology Inc. (JASTEC)
Wire for NMR spectrometer, wire for solid-state physics magnets
Contact: Mr. Yukinobu Murakami
Tel: 093-391-2836 Fax: 093-391-2847-- Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
Conductors for nuclear fusion reactors and accelerators, conductors for pulsed magnetic fields
Contact: Mr. Shuji Sakai, Research and Development Dept., Wrought Copper and Copper Alloys Business
Headquarters
Tel: 029-826-7444 Fax: 029-823-2144--The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
Contact: Mr. Yoshikawa or Mr. Shimizu, Superconducting Product Sales Section
Traffic and Public Business Dept.
Tel: 03-3286-3161 Fax: 03-3286-3686
Conductors for high energy accelerators, conductors for fluctuating magnetic fields, variety of copper
stabilized Nb-Ti conductors
Contact: Mr. Miyoshi, Superconducting Product Dept., Nikko Works, Metal Group
Tel: 0288-54-0504 Fax: 0288-54-2216--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
PVF-coated superconducting wire, polyimide-coated flat wire, and others
Tel: 0427-79-5564 Fax: 0427-79-5673[Nb3Sn-Compound Composite Superconducting Wire]-- Japan Superconductor Technology Inc. (JASTEC)
Wire for NMR spectrometer, conductors for high-magnetic field magnets
Contact: Mr. Yukinobu Murakami
Tel: 093-391-2836 Fax: 093-391-2847-- Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
Conductors for high magnetic fields magnet, conductors for nuclear fusion reactors
Contact: Mr. Shuji Sakai, Research and Development Dept., Copper Product Group Headquarters
Tel: 029-826-7444 Fax: 029-823-2144--The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
Contact: Mr. Yoshikawa or Mr. Shimizu, Superconducting Product Sales Section
Traffic and Public Business Dept.
Tel: 03-3286-3161 Fax: 03-3286-3686
Conductors for NMR spectrometer, conductors for high magnetic fields magenet, CICC
strands for nuclear fusion reactors
Contact: Mr. Miyoshi, Superconducting Product Dept., Nikko Works, Metal Group
Tel: 0288-54-0504 Fax: 0288-54-2216

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―31−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044-- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Low hysteresis loss strands for nuclear fusion reactors, high critical current density strands for direct
currents
Tel: 0427-79-5564 Fax: 0427-79-5673[Nb3Al-Compound Composite Superconducting Wire]-- Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
Conductors for high magnetic fields, conductors for nuclear fusion reactors
Contact: Mr. Shuji Sakai, Research and Development Dept., Copper Products Group Headquarters
Tel: 029-826-7444 Fax: 029-823-2144[Bismuth Silver Sheath Oxide Superconducting Wire]-- Showa Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd.
Silver sheathed Bi-2212 wire, silver sheath Bi-2223 wire, current leads
Contact: Ms. Takayo Hasegawa, Superconducting Project, Technical Development Center
Tel: 042-773-7163 Fax: 042-773-7291-- Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
Silver sheathed Bi-2223 tapeContact: Mr. Kazuhiko Hayashi, Superconductivity Development OfficeTel: 06-6466-5634 Fax: 06-6466-5705-- Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
Contact: Mr. Shuji Sakai, Research and Development Dept., Copper Products Group Headquarters
Tel: 029-826-7444 Fax: 029-823-2144(Yasuzo Tanaka, Editor)(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―32−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Patent Information
Introduction of Published Unexamined Patents in the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal 2003

The following are ISTEC’s patents published from October through December 2003. For more
information, access the homepage of the Patent Office of Japan and visit the Industrial Property Digital
Library (IPDL).

1) Patent No. 2003-282981: “ JOSEPHSON JUNCTION ELEMENT AND ITS MANUFACTURING
METHOD”
This invention provides a method for manufacturing surface-modified high-temperature Josephson
junctions at a high yield rate. The method is characterized as dividing the formation of the second
superconducting layer into two steps after forming the first superconducting layer on a substrate and an
insulating layer, and removing a specific part of the insulating layer.
The first step forms the second superconducting layer with a relatively low deposition rate, which isadopted to form a homogeneous junction interface. The second step for the second superconducting layer
employs a relatively high deposition rate to get the specific thickness of the layer with high superconductive
quality. This invention enables achieving 8% or less critical current distribution (1σ) of Josephson junction
elements.

2) Patent No. 2003-283324: “ SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTION LINE”
When existing Josephson transmission line (JTL) circuits are applied to single flux quantum circuits thattreat steep magnetic flux quantum pulses as signal pulses, undesirable oscillating waves remain at the rearedge of the pulses, which deter high-speed operations. In this invention, a resister is connected between
the ground and an arbitrary point of each inductor which is a composing element of existing JTL. The new
JTL configuration, in which a pair of resister and inductor operates as an integral element, allows
attenuating steep pulses, leading to higher speed operation.

3) Patent No. 2003-300726: “TAPE-LIKE OXIDE SUPERCONDUCTOR AND MANUFACTURING
METHOD THEREFOR”
This invention relates to the MOD method that uses metal organic acids whose metal elements arecomposite metal elements of an RE oxide superconductor.
In recent years, high critical current density films have been obtained relatively easily using MOD
method. Multi-coated layers to fabricate a thick film, however, cause critical current density to deteriorate
terribly. This invention featured by employing lower calcination temperature for these inner coating layers
than the temperature of the outermost coating layer, including optimizing the atmosphere gases. This allows
multiple coating for fabrication of thick precursor without characteristic deterioration, and the film
characteristics resulted in film thickness (µm) x critical current density (MA/cm2)≧0.8.

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―33−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

4) Patent No. 2003-347610: “THERMAL TREATMENT METHOD FOR OXIDE SUPERCONDUCTING
THIN FILM”
This invention relates to a complex substrate with superconductive layer on an insulator substrate forultra-high speed electronic devices. When a YBCO thin film is formed on an MgO substrate of a small
dielectric constant by, for example, a physical vapor deposition method, the generation of an unevensuperconducting surface is inevitable due to the lattice mismatch of the MgO-YBCO interface. This
invention relates to an annealing process that rapidly heating up the complex substrate from room
temperature to a range of 350-500°C within a minute in an atmosphere of 100% oxygen, resulting in
reducing the surface roughness mentioned above to 1/2 or less.

5) Patent No. 2003-347611: “FABRICATION METHOD OF SUPERCONDUCTING FILM”
Superconducting thin film layers are needed on both sides of an insulated single crystal substrate forsuperconducting electronic devices. In the existing method, after forming YBCO layer on one side of thesubstrate, the substrate must be inversely placed on a substrate holder to form opposite sidesuperconducting layer. While the substrate with the single side superconducting layer is being heated up,
however, it tends to warp due to the different expansion coefficients of the insulator substrate and the YBCO
layer and to form an uneven YBCO layer surface owing to temperature un-uniformity. In this invention,
stacking two pieces of the single-layered substrates on the substrate holder makes reduction of thetemperature un-uniformity of the upper substrate and improvement of adhesion between the substrateholder and the two single-layered substrates.
(Katsuo Nakazato, Director, Research & Development Promotion Division, SRL/ISTEC)(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―34−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

Standardization Activities-- IEC/TC90--VAMAS/TWA16 Joint Conference Held
IEC/TC90 and VAMAS/TWA16 held a joint conference on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 at 7:00 P.M. in the
2nd Meeting Room of the Main Control Building of the National Institute for Materials Science, an
independent administrative agency, in the Sengen site. There were a total of 17 participants at the joint
conference--three Germans, one Korean, one British, two Americans, and ten Japanese--to report theirprogress on R&D activities and to discuss the standardization of superconductivity on wires, bulks,
mechanical characteristics, alternative current losses, stress-strain effects, advanced material
measurement methods, and other standardization activities since the former Yokohama Conference.
The joint conference agendas were as follows:
1. TWA Office Report (K. Itoh)
2. Project Reports and Discussions(1) Project number: WG1-1 (T. Kuroda); Bending strain effects on critical current in oxide superconductors(2) Project number: WG1-3 (T. Matsushita); Measurement method of irreversibility field in oxide
superconductors(3) Project number: WG1-4 (E. Collings); Coupling loss measurement in multifilamentary HTS
superconductors(4) Project number: WG2-1 (M. Murakami); Measurement methods of trapped field and levitation force inbulk oxide superconductors, (T. Habisreuther); Report on the recent research at Jena, and (D. Cardwell);Report on European RRT(5) Project number: WG3-1 (S. Kosaka); Measurement methods of surface resistance in thin film
superconductors(6) Project number: WG4-1 (K. Osamura); Measurement method for the mechanical properties of oxide
superconductors
3. New Proposals(1) Critical current and mechano-electromagnetic properties of MgB2 conductors (K. Osamura)(2) Inductive measurement of Jc in large area superconducting films (H. Yamasaki)
4. IEC/TC90
Related activities in IEC/TC90 (Y. Tanaka)
5. Future Schedule(Published in a Japanese version in the December 2003 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―35−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044-- Instituting a new Standard of Ic Testing Methods for Bi-System Superconducting
Wire (JIS H7305)
The Japanese Standards Association, a juridical foundation, issued the following superconductivity
related JIS standards as of October 20, 2003. The superconductivity related JIS standards so far issued
have totaled 6 standards--one standard for superconductivity related terms and five standards for testing
methods.
- New JIS Standard and Overview
Title: Superconductivity-- Critical current measurement--DC Critical Current of Ag-Sheathed Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 Oxide Superconductors
Standard No. JIS H 7305: 2003
Instituted: October 20, 2003
Issue: Japanese Standards Association
Organization of the Standard: Body; introduction, scope of application, reference standards, definitions,requirements, devices, sample preparation, testing method, accuracy and correctness of testing method,
method for calculating testing results, reporting items, appendix A (reference); additional references fromarticles 1 through 9, appendix B (reference); critical current hysteresis of high-temperature oxide
superconductors, bibliography, description.
Overview of testing method:A method of testing the DC critical current with the 4-terminal method that targets bismuth 2212 andbismuth 2223 oxide short superconducting wire which is made of coated silver or silver alloy. The
superconducting wire subject to the standard is wire that has critical current of 500 A and 5 or larger of the nvalue. The test sample must be soaked in liquid helium or liquid nitrogen during the test.
- Associated International Standard
Title: Superconductivity--Part 3: Critical current measurement--DC critical current of Ag-sheathed Bi-2212
and Bi-2223 oxide superconductors
Standard No. IEC 61788-3:2000
Instituted: December 2000
Conformity: Complete consistency
This standard is correctly translated into Japanese from the IEC (International Electrical Committee)
Standard mentioned above. The translation work is conducted by the JIS Draft Preparation Working Group(WG3: chaired by Kikuo Ito of the National Institute for Materials Science), which was formed under the JIS
Draft Preparation Committee, headed by Professor Kozo Osamura at Kyoto University.
(Published in a Japanese version in the January 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)-- TC90 and IEEJ Started Cooperation
The IEC/TC90 Superconductivity Committee (Shigeki Saito, Chairperson of Japan National Committee
and Senior Managing Director of ISTEC) requested cooperation from the Institute of Electrical Engineers ofJapan on January 9, 2004 for the standardization of superconducting power equipment. IEEJ accepted theSpring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―36−

Spring, 2004

Date of Issue: April 15, 2004

Superconductivity Web21
Superconductivity

Published by International Superconductivity Technology Center
5-34-3, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
Tel: 03-3431-4002, Fax: 03-3431-4044

request. The cooperation rank next to the international liaison agreement defined in Part 1 of the IEC/ISO
Directives. The cooperation is expected to function as strong technical support for standardizing
superconductivity. The IEC/TC90 Superconductivity Committee already concluded a liaison agreement with
VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards) in 1995.
The liaison, defined in Part 1 of the IEC/ISO Directives, is subdivided into three types—(1) a liaison
between the two TCs of IEC, (2) a liaison between the ISO and IEC, and (3) a liaison between the IEC/ISOand other institutions. The IEC/TC90's request for cooperation from IEEJ didn't fall into any of thesecategories, but was close to case (3). Specifically, the IEC/TC90 Superconductivity Committee
acknowledged IEEJ as an institution working in areas similar to those of TC or related areas, an interested
international institution, or a regional institution with a broad activities base, before requesting cooperationfrom IEEJ for an international liaison.
IEEJ set up a Special Committee on the Effects of Introduction of Superconducting Equipment andExamining Testing Methods as a five-year project from fiscal 2000 through fiscal 2004. The special
committee aims to research and study testing methods, technical trends, and implementation effects ofsuperconducting power cables, superconducting current limiters, and superconducting transformers.
Moreover, the special committee has reported many achievements on a national project, called the
Research and Development Project of Key Technology for Alternative Current Superconducting Power
Equipment, which was re-commissioned by the Superconducting Generator Related Equipment andMaterial Technology Research Cooperative (Super-GM). One example of the achievements of the special
committee is the Achievements Report for Fiscal 2002 on the Research of a Total System and Study of
Implementation Effects, Key Technology Research and Development for Alternative Current
Superconducting Power Equipment, which was submitted to NEDO in March 2003 through Super-GM by
IEEJ.
As part of the standardization activities on superconducting power equipment, the Japan National
Committee of the IEC/TC90 Superconductivity Committee has also begun to work on preparing generalrules of superconducting cable testing methods, superconducting current limiter testing methods, andsuperconducting transformer testing methods as well as a low-temperature conductor standard for SMES
and a low-temperature superconducting standard for superconducting generators. These activities will also
reflect the achievements of IEEJ.
(Published in a Japanese version in the February 2004 issue of Superconductivity Web 21)(Yasuzo Tanaka, Director, Standardization Department, ISTEC)

Top of Superconductivity Web21

Spring, 2004

© ISTEC 2004 All rights reserved.

―37−