SUPERCONDUCTING TRANSFORMER

Abstract: A superconducting transformer comprises primary and secondary superconducting coils (37, 38) which are coaxial and made of superconducting wires, and a cryostat (20) for maintaining the superconducting coils (37, 38) in a superconducting state. The cryostat (20) includes a vessel (21) for containing refrigerant (28) and which is formed of a ferromagnetic material. The coils (37, 38) are immersed in the refrigerant (28). Rod (27) formed of ferromagnetic materials is inserted in the primary and secondary superconducting coils (37, 38) and (27) is magnetically coupled with the vessel (21). The cryostat (20) also includes a heat insulating tank (30) for thermally insulating the rod (27) and the vessel (21) from the refrigerant (28). The rod (27) and the vessel together (21) form a closed magnetic circuit (37, 38), and function as a core for the superconducting coils.

Description: The present invention relates to a superconducting transformer and, more particularly, to a superconducting transformer for transferring electric energy from a primary superconducting coil to a secondary superconducting coil by means of magnetic induction. This superconducting transformer includes primary and secondary superconducting coils made of superconducting wires, a core a portion of which is coaxial with the coils, thereby forming a closed magnetic circuit, and a cryostat for maintaining the superconducting coils in a superconducting state. The superconducting coils and the core are immersed in a refrigerant, such as liquid helium, contained in the cryostat. More specifically, the superconducting coils are cooled by the refrigerant, thereby to be assume a superconducting state. Superconducting wires in the superconducting state experience almost no hysteresis loss or coupling loss. That is, superconducting coils in the superconducting state experience almost no ohmic loss. Thus, a superconducting transformer can transfer a large quantity of electric energy from the primary coil to the secondary coil, with almost no AC loss. However, even if it is not necessary to place the core in the superconducting state, the core is nevertheless immersed in the refrigerant. When the superconducting transformer is operated, Joule heat is generated from the core, due to the iron loss thereof. Thus, when the core is immersed in the refrigerant, a large quantity of refrigerant is heated by the Joule heat, with the result that the cooling efficiency of the superconducting coils is inevitably degraded. Consequently, it is necessary that the core be insulated from the refrigerant. In FR-A-2581473 and US-A-3173079, as is shown in Fig. 1, a superconducting transformer has been proposed which satisfies this requirement. A cryostat includes vessel 1, which contains heat insulating tank 2. Vessel 1 has annular side wall 3, bottom wall 4, and cover 5. Core 8 is annular in shape, is formed of a rod, and has first portion 11, second portion 12, third portion 13, and fourth portion 14. First portion 11 is inserted in opening 6 of bottom wall 4 and opening 7 of cover 5. Second to fourth portions 12 to 14 are located outside vessel 1. Heat insulating tank 2 has side 15 and bottom 16 extending along the inner surfaces of side wall 3 and bottom wall 4, respectively, and enclosure 17 extending along the outer periphery of first portion 11 of annular core 8. Primary and secondary superconducting coils 9 and 10 are provided which are coaxial with first portion 11 of annular core 8 and surround enclosure 17. Refrigerant is contained in heat insulating tank 8. Therefore, superconducting coils 9 and 10 are magnetically coupled with first portion 11 of core 8. First portion 11 of core 8 is thermally insulated from the refrigerant by enclosure 17 of heat insulating tank 2, without coming into contact with the refrigerant. Second to fourth portions 12 to 14 of core 8 are located outside of vessel 1, and not in contact with the refrigerant. In this way, the requirement that the core be insulated from the refrigerant, is satisfied. In the case of the superconducting transformer shown in Fig. 1, before core 8 is bent, it is passed through opening 6 of bottom wall 4, coils 9 and 10, enclosure 17, and opening 7 of cover 5. Thereafter, core 8 is bent annularly. Thus, after core 8 has been formed into an annular shape, it is then difficult to remove superconducting coils 9 and 10 therefrom, for maintenance. If it is necessary to remove superconducting coils 9 and 10 from annular core 8, core 8 must then be cut open. Consequently, maintenance and inspection of the superconducting coils cannot be performed with ease. Since second to fourth portions 12 to 14 of core 8 are disposed outside the vessel, it is necessary to increase the mechanical strengths of the vessel and the heat insulating tank. Particularly, since the load of core 8 is applied to the upper and lower ends of enclosure 17 of heat insulating tank 2, the upper and lower ends of enclosure 17 must be formed rigidly. Thus, the thickness of enclosure 17 of heat insulating tank 2 is increased. Consequently, a space between superconducting coils 9, 10 and first portion 11 of core 8 is increased. Therefore, leakage magnetic flux radiated from superconducting coils 9, 10 through the space is increased. As a result, the transferring loss of the superconducting transformer is increased. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a superconducting transformer in which a core is thermally insulated from a refrigerant, so as to prevent the temperature of the refrigerant from rising, in which a leakage magnetic flux from superconducting coils is reduced to minimize a transfer loss, and which is relatively easy to maintain. In order to achieve the above object, the superconducting transformer according to the present invention comprises primary and secondary superconducting coils which are coaxial and made of wound superconducting wires, and a cryostat for maintaining the primary and secondary superconducting coils in a superconducting state. The cryostat includes a vessel which contains a refrigerant, into which the superconducting coils are immersed. This vessel has a first wall, a second wall disposed opposite to the first wall, and a third wall magnetically coupled with the first and second walls. The first, second, and third walls are formed of ferromagnetic materials. Rod formed of ferromagnetic materials are disposed to penetrate along the central axis of the primary and secondary superconducting coils. The rod is magnetically coupled at one end with the first wall of the vessel, and at the other end with the third wall thereof. The cryostat has heat insulating means for thermally insulating the refrigerant from the vessel and the rod. The rod, the first, third, and second walls together form a closed magnetic circuit of the superconducting coils. Therefore, when a current is supplied to the primary superconducting coil, a magnetic flux is generated in a path of the rod, the first, third and second walls. As a result, an induced current is generated in the second superconducting coil. In other words, the rod, the first, third, and second walls operate as a core. In the superconducting transformer of the present invention, the core, i.e., the rod, and the first, third and second walls are thermally insulated from the refrigerant. Therefore, the Joule heat generated in the core cannot be transferred to the refrigerant, and thus the refrigerant is not heated. Consequently, the cooling efficiency of the superconducting coil does not decrease. Since the core is not disposed outside of the vessel, the mechanical strength of the vessels and the heat insulating means does not have to be high. In particular, the thickness of a member for thermally insulating the rod from the refrigerant can be reduced, and thus the spacing between the rod and the superconducting coils can be reduced, as compared with the case of the conventional superconducting transformer. As a result, the quantity of leakage magnetic flux radiated from the superconducting coils may be reduced, as can the transfer loss of the superconducting transformer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vessel comprises a vessel body which has a detachable cover and the cover has the first wall. Thus, when the cover is removed from the vessel body, the superconducting coils are raised along the rod, and may then be removed from the vessel body. Therefore, unlike in the case of the conventional superconducting transformer, it is not necessary to cut the annular core. Consequently, maintenance and inspection of the superconducting transformer can be performed more readily, as compared with the conventional transformer. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjuction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a superconducting transformer according to prior art; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a superconducting transformer according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the superconducting transformer in Fig. 2 and the direction of a magnetic flux generated in a core; Fig. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing the superconducting transformer in Fig. 2 and the state that a cover is removed from a vessel body; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a superconducting transformer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a superconducting transformer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This superconducting transformer includes cryostat 20 having vessel 21. Vessel 21 has vessel body 22 for containing refrigerant 28, and cover 23 provided detachably to vessel body 22. Vessel body 22 includes annular side wall 24 having openings at upper and lower ends. Disc-like bottom wall 25 disposed oppositely to cover 23 is integrally formed with side wall 24 to close the opening at the lower end of side wall 24. Disc-like cover 23 is attached to the upper end of side wall 24 by bolts 26 to close the opening at the upper end of side wall 24. Rod 27 is extended upward from the center of bottom wall 25. This rod 27 is formed integrally with bottom wall 25. The upper end of rod 27 is contacted with the center of cover 23. In other words, the upper end of rod 27 is magnetically coupled with cover 23. Vessel 21, i.e., vessel body 22 and cover 23 are formed, for example, of ferromagnetic material such as silicon steel. Thus, as will be described, rod 27, cover 23, sidewall 24, and bottom wall 25 form a closed magnetic circuit to operate as a core. Cryostat 20 has heat insulating means for thermally insulating rod 27 and vessel 21 from refrigerant 28. The heat insulating means has heat insulating tank 30 disposed along the inner surface of vessel body 22, and heat insulating plate 31 disposed under the inner surface of cover 23. Heat insulating tank 30 has annular side 32 opened at upper and lower ends and disposed along the inner surface of sidewall 24 of vessel body 22. Bottom 33 disposed along the inner surface of bottom wall 25 of vessel body 22 and closing the opening of the lower end of side 32 is formed integrally with side 32. Enclosure 34 disposed along the outer periphery of rod 27 is formed integrally with bottom 33. Portions 32 to 34 of heat insulating tank 30 are formed of double walls formed of FRP (glass fiber reinforced vinyl polyester resin). A vacuum space is defined between the double walls. Heat insulating plate 31 is fixed to upper ends of side 32 and enclosure 34 to close the opening of the upper end of side 32. The upper end of rod 27 is inserted into opening 35 formed at the center of heat insulating plate 31. Two O-rings 36-1, 36-2 are provided under the lower surface of heat insulating plate 31. O-rings 36-1, 36-2 seal the interior of heat insulating tank 30 from the exterior. Refrigerant 28, such as liquid helium, liquid nitrogen, liquid hydrogen or liquid oxygen is contained in vessel 21, i.e., in heat insulating tank 30. The superconducting transformer comprises primary and secondary superconducting coils 37 and 38 which are coaxial. Rod 27 is inserted into primary and secondary superconducting coils 37 and 38. In other words, rod 27 is located coaxially with of superconducting coils 37 and 38. Superconducting coils 37 and 38 surrounds enclosure 34 of heat insulating tank 30, and immersed in refrigerant 28. More specifically, superconducting coils 37 and 38 are provided in an annular space defined by side 32 and enclosure 34 of heat insulating tank 30. Superconducting coils 37 and 38 are formed by winding superconducting wires. The ends of the wound superconducting wires of primary superconducting coil 37 are connected to current lead wires 39 for supplying a current. The ends of wound superconducting wires of secondary superconducting coil 38 are connected to current lead wires 40 from which a current is output. Pipe 41 is inserted through cover 23 and heat insulating plate 31 and opened in heat insulating tank 30. Refrigerant 28 gasified in heat insulating tank 30 is exhausted through pipe 41. Refrigerant 28 is led to cooler (not shown) to cool to be liquified. Liquified refrigerant 28 is fed through pipe 41 again to heat insulating tank 30. When cover 23 is attached to the upper ends of side wall 24 and rod 27 by bolts 26, vessel body 22 and rod 27 form a closed magnetic circuit. In other words, a current flows through current lead wires 39 to primary superconducting coil 37. Thus, as designated by broken lines in Fig. 3, a magnetic flux is generated in a passage of rod 27, cover 23, side wall 24 and bottom wall 25. Consequently, an induced current is generated in second superconducting coil 37. Therefore, rod 27, cover 23, side wall 24 and bottom wall 25 operate as a core. At this time, rod 27, cover 23, side wall 24 and bottom wall 25, i.e., core generates Joule heat due to iron loss. However, rod 27, cover 23, side wall 24 and bottom wall 25 are thermally insulated from refrigerant 28 by heat insulating tank 30 and heat insulating plate 31. Thus, the Joule heat is not transferred to the refrigerant, so that a large quantity of refrigerant 28 is prevented from rising at its temperature. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of superconducting coils does not decrease. The core is not arranged outside of the vessel as the conventional superconducting transformer. Thus, the vessel and the heat insulating tank are not required for high mechanical strengths. In other words, the upper and lower ends of rod 27 are supported by cover 23 and bottom wall 25. Thus, the load of rod 27 is not almost applied to enclosure 34 of heat insulating tank 30. Therefore, the thickness of enclosure 34 may be reduced. Thus, space between superconducting coils 37 and 38 and rod 27 may be small. Consequently, the leakage magnetic flux radiated from superconducting coils 37 and 38 through the space is reduced. Therefore, the transfer loss of the superconducting transformer is reduced as compared with the conventional superconducting transformer. As shown in Fig. 4, cover 23 is not fixed to rod 27, and can be removed from the upper end Of side wall 24. Thus, superconducting coils 37 and 38 are raised along the outer periphery of enclosure 34 to be removed outside. In other words, the superconducting coils can be removed, without cutting the core. Consequently, the maintenance and the inspection of the superconducting transformer is readily performed. The superconducting transformer of the present invention is reduced in the weight and volume in accordance with the reduced amounts of the thicknesses of second to fourth portions 12 to 14 and heat insulating tank 30 of the conventional core. According to the present invention, it is not necessary to form the entire vessel 21 of ferromagnetic material. In other words, the predetermined portion of the vessel may be formed of ferromagnetic material, and may form a closed magnetic circuit. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the right half (first wall 45) of cover 23, the right half (second wall 46) of bottom wall 25, and the right side (third wall 47) of side wall 34 may be formed of ferromagnetic materials. In this case, rod 27, first wall 45, third wall 47 and second wall 46 form a magnetic circuit and operate as a core. A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the second embodiment, primary superconducting coil 61 and secondary superconducting coil 62 are separately disposed. In Fig. 5, two rods 56, 57 are extended upward from bottom wall 55 of vessel body 52. The upper ends of two rods 56 and 57 are contacted with cover 53, to be magnetically coupled with cover 53. Heat insulating tank 58 has two enclosures 59 and 60 disposed along the outer peripheries of rods 56 and 57. Rods 56 and 57 are thermally insulated from refrigerant 28 by enclosures 59 and 60. The central axes of primary and secondary superconducting coils 61 and 62 are disposed coaxially with rods 56 and 57, respectively. Superconducting coils 61 and 62 are disposed radially outward of enclosures 59 and 60, and immersed in refrigerant 28. Therefore, even in this second embodiment, two rods 56, 57, cover 53, side wall 54 and bottom wall 56 form a magnetic circuit and operate as a core. In the second embodiment described above, the magnetic flux flowing to the outer periphery of cover 53, side wall 54 and the outer periphery of bottom wall 55, does not generate induced current in secondary superconducting coil 62, and is wasteful magnetic flux. Thus, in the second embodiment, outer portion of cover 53 (i.e., that portion is other than the center portion), side wall 54 and outer portion of bottom wall 55 (i.e., that portion is other than the center portion) are preferably formed of a substance having low magnetic permeability. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the center portion (first wall 65) of cover 53, and the center portion (second wall 66) of bottom wall 55 may be formed of ferromagnetic materials. In this case, rod 56, first wall 65, rod 57 and second wall 66 form a magnetic circuit, and operate as a core as shown by broken line in Fig. 5. The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above. In the embodiments, the upper end of the rod is contacted with the cover, and the lower end of the rod is formed integrally with the bottom wall. However, the ends of the rod may be magnetically coupled with the cover or the bottom wall. The refrigerant is not limited to the liquid helium, and may be any substance which may maintain the superconducting coils in superconducting state.

Claims: A superconducting transformer comprising: primary and secondary superconducting coils (37, 38) which are coaxial and made of superconducting wires; and a cryostat (20) for maintaining said primary and secondary superconducting coils (37, 38) in a superconducting state; characterized in that said cryostat (20) includes: a vessel (21) containing refrigerant (28) in which said superconducting coils (37, 38) are immersed, said vessel (21) having a first wall (45), a second wall (46) disposed opposite to the first wall (45), and a third wall (47) magnetically coupled with the first and second walls (45, 46), the first to third walls (45 to 46) being formed of ferromagnetic materials; a rod (27) formed of a ferromagnetic material, said rod (27) being inserted in said primary and secondary superconducting coils (37, 38), and having two ends magnetically coupled with the first wall (45) and the third wall (47) of said vessel (21), respectively; and heat insulating means (30, 31) for thermally insulating said rod (27) and the vessel (21) from the refrigerant (28); whereby, said rod (27), the first wall (45), the third wall (47) and the second wall (46) form a closed magnetic circuit for said superconducting coils (37, 38). A superconducting transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that said vessel (21) includes: a vessel body (22) having an annular side wall (24) opened at upper and lower ends thereof, and a bottom wall (25) closed at the opening of the lower end of the side wall (24); and a cover (23) for closing the opening of the upper end of the side wall (24), and whereby said cover has the first wall (45), said side wall (24) has the third wall (47), and said bottom wall (46) has the second wall (46). A superconducting transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that said cover (23) is detachably mounted on the upper end of the side wall (24) of the vessel body (22). A superconducting transformer according to claim 2, characterized in that said rod (27), side wall (24) and bottom wall (25) are formed integrally. A superconducting transformer according to claim 2, characterized in that said heat insulating means includes: a heat insulating tank (30) having an annular side (32) disposed along the annular side wall (24) of said vessel (21) and opened at the upper and lower ends thereof, a bottom (33) disposed along the bottom wall (25) of said vessel (21) to close the lower end of the annular side (32) thereof, and an enclosure (34) disposed along the outer periphery of said rod (27) and inserted into said superconducting coils (37, 38). A superconducting transformer according to claim 5, characterized in that the side (32), the bottom (33), and the enclosure (34) of said heat insulating tank (30) are formed of double walls with a vacuum space being defined therebetween. A superconducting transformer according to claim 5, characterized in that said heat insulating means has a heat insulating plate (31) for closing the opening of the upper end of the side (32) of said heat insulating tank (30) and which is disposed under the lower surface of said cover (23). A superconducting transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that the ferromagnetic material for forming the first wall (45), the second wall (46), the third wall (47), and the rod (27) is silicon steel. A superconducting transformer according to claim 2, characterized in that said superconducting coils (37, 38) are disposed in an annular space defined between the rod (27) and a side wall (24) of said vessel (21). A superconducting transformer comprising: primary and secondary superconducting coils (61, 62) made of superconducting wires; and a cryostat (20) for maintaining said primary and secondary superconducting coils (61, 62) in a superconducting state; characterized in that said cryostat (20) includes: a vessel (21) containing refrigerant in which said superconducting coils (61, 62) are immersed, said vessel (21) having a first wall (65), and a second wall (66) disposed oppositely to the first wall (65), the first wall (65) and the second wall (66) being formed of ferromagnetic materials; two rods (56, 57) formed of a ferromagnetic material, one of said rods being (56) inserted through said primary superconducting coils (61), the other of said rod (57) inserted through said secondary superconducting coils (62), each rod having two ends, one each magnetically coupled with the first wall (65) and the second wall (66) of said vessel (21), respectively; and heat insulating means (58) for thermally insulating said rod (56, 57) and the vessel from the refrigerant; whereby, said rod, the first wall, and the second wall (65, 66) form a closed magnetic circuit for said superconducting coils (61, 62). A superconducting transformer according to claim 10, characterized in that said vessel (21) includes: a vessel body (52) having an annular side wall (54) opened at upper and lower ends thereof, and a bottom wall (55) closed at the opening of the lower end of the side wall (54); and a cover (53) for closing the opening of the upper end of the side wall (54), and characterized in that said cover (54) has the first wall (65), and said bottom wall (55) has the second wall (66). A superconducting transformer according to claim 11, characterized in that said cover (53) is detachably provided at the upper end of the side wall (54) of the vessel body (52). A superconducting transformer according to claim 11, characterized in that said rod (56, 57), side wall (54) and bottom wall (55) are formed integrally. A superconducting transformer according to claim 11, characterized in that said heat insulating means includes a heat insulating tank (58) having an annular side (32) disposed along the annular side wall (54) of said vessel (21) and opened at the upper and lower ends thereof, a bottom (33) disposed along the bottom wall (55) of said vessel, (21) to close the lower end of the annular side (32) thereof, and two enclosures (59, 60)disposed along the outer periphery of said rod (56, 57) and inserted into said superconducting coils (60, 61). A superconducting transformer according to claim 14, characterized in that the side (32), the bottom (33) and the enclosures (59, 60) of said heat insulating tank (58) are formed of double walls with a vacuum space being defined therebetween. A superconducting transformer according to claim 14, characterized in that said heat insulating means has a heat insulating plate (31) for closing the opening of the upper end of the side (32) of said heat insulating tank (58), and which is disposed under the lower surface of said cover (53). A superconducting transformer according to claim 10, characterized in that the ferromagnetic material for forming the first wall (65), the second wall (66), and the rod (56, 57) is silicon steel.

Inventors: ITO, DAISUKE C/O PATENT DIVISION, MOROHOSHI, MITUYOSHI C/O PATENT DIVISION, SIMIZU, ERIKO C/O PATENT DIVISION, TASHIRO, IKUO C/O PATENT DIVISION
Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: H01F36
IPC codes: H01F36