WO2018185124A1

WO2018185124A1 - Use of a superconducting conductor arrangement and transport system having a superconducting conductor arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2018185124A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/058539
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Reiser; Stefan Huwer
Original assignee: Vision Electric Super Conductors Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-04-04
Filing date: 2018-04-04
Publication date: 2018-10-11
Also published as: LU100160B1; DE112018001839A5

Abstract

The invention relates to a use of a superconducting conductor arrangement and to a transport system having a superconducting conductor arrangement. The invention is characterized in that the actually disruptive magnetic field of a superconducting conductor arrangement through which current flows, used for supplying a consumer, is used simultaneously as an electromagnetic levitation system for a means of transport. The conductor arrangement thus "incidentally" forms a support and/or guide rail for a transport capsule, which can be held in levitation and moved along the superconducting conductor arrangement, without physical contact, by means of the magnetic field. The high infrastructural expense for cooling, extending over the length of a superconducting power supply line, the operation of which additionally requires high costs and energy, thus is incurred only once. The urgently required electricity lines thus simultaneously also become a modern transport system, and vice versa.

Description

USE OF A SUPERCONDUCTIVE LADDER ASSEMBLY AND TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITH A SUPERCONDUCTIVE LADDER ASSEMBLY

The invention relates to a use of a superconducting conductor arrangement and a transport system with a superconducting conductor arrangement.

Superconductors (SL) are known to provide no electrical losses and high current densities in DC applications, with very low transition temperatures below 23 Kelvin requiring the use of expensive cooling techniques. These superconductors are today referred to as low temperature superconductors (TTSL) because their operating temperature is 4.2 Kelvin or lower. Since the discovery of superconductivity in Ba-La-Cu-O compounds, numerous high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs) have been found, some of whose critical temperatures are more than 100 Kelvin higher than those of TTSL. The hitherto highest transition temperatures under normal pressure were measured with 133 Kelvin and 135 Kelvin of Hg-Ba-Ca-Cu-O compounds. Part of the more than fifty HTSLs known today have transition temperatures which are above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen of 77 Kelvin. This allows new technical applications of superconductivity, since liquid nitrogen cooling is orders of magnitude cheaper than liquid helium which TTSL requires. Other liquids are also possible, provided that their boiling point is below the critical temperature of the superconductor used. There are also medium temperature superconductors (MTSL), such. B. MgB2 with a critical temperature of 39 Kelvin and a typical operating temperature of 20-25 Kelvin. There are concepts for using the HTSL for virtually lossless conduction of a high electrical current, in particular in the form of busbars, which are used as direct current connection for high current consumers, in particular aluminum, copper or zinc electrolyses, graphitization, chemical electrolysis, such as chlorine or fluorine electrolysis , DC networks or in data centers with DC-based servers. Such busbars must carry direct current in the order of magnitude of approximately 10 to several 100 kA. Furthermore, as part of the energy transition, grid expansion to the less populated areas with increased wind or photovoltaic power supply is necessary, as well as a controversial north-south connection. Conventional technology would require a massive use of suitable conductive materials, especially copper or aluminum. which also have to be held and laid by complex mechanics and structures. Infrastructure measures are regularly met with fierce resistance from local residents and the public. On longer distances, high electrical losses result, which can be avoided by the use of superconductors. However, cooling must be used whose construction and operation requires high cost and energy.

Regardless of electromagnetic levitation systems are used, for example in the maglev, a track-guided land transport, which is held by magnetic forces in suspension, guided in the track, driven and braked. The technology allows high speeds, accelerations and gradients. Magnetically levitated orbits use magnetic fields to levitate vehicles. The electromagnetic levitation system (electromagnetic suspension, EMS) and the electrodynamic suspension system (electrodynamic suspension, EDS) are known. At EMS, a DC-excited electromagnet magnetizes the ferromagnetic material on the other side of an air gap, causing an attractive force. Since the attractive process would be unstable without regulation, an active air gap control must be used here. Fast and efficient dynamic controls are crucial for this. In order to be able to lift the vehicle by means of attractive forces, the chassis of the Transrapid system encompasses the road, as in the case of the Transrapid. In EDS, alternating magnetic fields are generated which on the opposite side in non-magnetic electrical conductors, mostly aluminum, cause eddy currents which prevent the deeper penetration of the magnetic field, with the result of a repulsive force, for example JR-Maglev. EDS is less energy efficient at low and medium speeds. At high speeds, the motion of a uniform excitatory field induces eddy currents, which reduces the energy expenditure of EDS, which EMS increases.

If the two systems work with superconducting coils, the magnetic field required for levitation can be built up almost loss-free. Instead of superconducting coils, it is also possible to use massive superconductors which maintain the distance to the magnetic field. The term "Hyperloop" discusses a concept for a high-speed transport system, in particular by solar energy electrically driven transport capsules with travel speeds of up to about 1 125 km / h by means of an electromagnetic levitation system floating through a heavily evacuated tube to transport. The concept envisages traveling at speeds of up to 1,500 kilometers much faster than by plane and at the same time much cheaper than traveling by train. The partial vacuum allows travel speeds to just above the speed of sound at normal pressure, without having to pierce the sound barrier. The concept relies in important parts on the use of already common and cheap available technology and altogether only on already available technology. Drive and braking can be done for example via asynchronous long stator linear motors, which have been installed, inter alia, in magnetic levitation trains such as the Transrapid. For emergencies, a mechanical brake and an electric wheel drive are additionally provided.

In any case, it is necessary to use cooling extending along the length of the route, the construction and operation of which require high costs or energy.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved use of a superconducting conductor arrangement or an improved transport system with a superconducting conductor arrangement.

This object is achieved by a use of the superconducting conductor arrangement with the features of the main claim, and a transport system with a superconducting conductor arrangement with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the invention, it was first recognized that the expense of constructing and operating a superconducting conductor arrangement over a defined length can be better utilized if this conductor arrangement fulfills two purposes at the same time.

On the one hand, the superconducting conductor arrangement also serves to conduct an electrical current through the superconducting conductor arrangement from a current feed point along the length of the superconducting conductor arrangement to an electrical consumer. This corresponds to a normal power supply to supply the load with electricity, the superconducting conductor arrangement is suitable for very long distances or virtually lossless power line and highest currents. The current, in particular the very high currents of at least 20 kA which are typical here, form a correspondingly strong magnetic field, which the person skilled in the art has hitherto considered disturbing, since the magnetic field above a certain level causes the transition temperature to drop. The special feature of the invention lies in the fact that the actually disturbing magnetic field is used as an electromagnetic levitation system for a means of transport. The ladder assembly therefore "casually" forms a support and / or guide rail for a transport capsule durable and free-floating along the length of the superconducting conductor assembly by the magnetic field by means of the magnetic field The principles of "electromagnetic levitation system" and "superconductive levitation" are well known in the art basically known and not deepened here. It does not matter which concrete transport system is used, as long as a superconducting conductor arrangement extends along the route, in which the current also flows along the plug. The conductor arrangement does not have to run straight, but may have loops, coils, meanders or the like. The term "transport capsule movable by means of the magnetic field" does not necessarily mean that the magnetic field is the driving force for the movement, but simply expresses that the capsule can be moved in a floating manner along the superconducting conductor arrangement, ie can be displaced Refrigeration extending over the length of a superconducting power line, whose operation also requires high costs and energy, thus arises only once, so that the urgently needed power lines also become a modern transport system at the same time.

The teaching according to the invention can conversely also be based on a transport system instead of a busbar: This transport system initially has a guide path for carrying and guiding a transport capsule adapted thereto for persons and / or goods, which can be moved along the guide path. This guideway can be free as in the Transrapid or integrated into a transport tube like the Hyperloop. In this case, the guide path has an electromagnetic levitation system with at least one carrier and / or guide rail extending along the guide path with a superconducting conductor arrangement for keeping the transport capsule body-contact-free along the transport tube by means of a magnetic field. Further, a cooling system is necessarily provided for cooling the superconducting conductor assembly below its transition temperature and a current injection point for introducing the current into the superconducting conductor assembly for generating the magnetic field. The particular feature according to the invention resides in the fact that an electrical load outside the guide path is arranged at a distance from the current feed point to the superconducting conductor arrangement which is operated by the current. The high infrastructure cost for extending over the length of an electromagnetic levitation system with superconducting line arrangement cooling, their operation also requires high costs and energy, thus falls only once. The modern transport system is thus also a power line. Preferably, the transport system is designed as a Hyperloop system is formed with the corresponding features, namely a guide path, as a pressure-tight under vacuum driving tube; and / or a pressure-tight transport capsule, which is movable in the interior of the driving tube; and / or a carrier and / or guide rail, running along and inside the transport tube. The utility of the invention is economically advantageous if the superconducting conductor arrangement has a current carrying capacity of at least 20 kA, preferably 200 kA. Of course, several conductor arrangements with these currents can be provided in parallel.

If a plurality of superconducting conductor arrangements are provided, which are designed as a forward and return conductor, results in a closed defined current flow, and according to the invention, an alternative return flow over the earth would be conceivable.

If the support rail forms the forward conductor and a plurality of guide rails together form the return conductor, the support rail can thereby build up a particularly large magnetic field for carrying the weight of the capsule, while the weaker magnetic fields of the plurality of guide rails only have a centering effect.

It is preferred that the superconducting conductor arrangement is used in a Hyperloop system as a carrier and / or guide rail and the transportable by means of magnetic force levitating and movable transport capsule is a pressure-tight passenger or goods transport capsule for low-drag fast movement of the capsule. If the superconducting conductor arrangement comprises high-temperature superconductors, the cost of providing, filling and cooling the cooling system is reduced.

To realize the invention as a hyperloop, it is preferably provided that the superconducting conductor arrangement and the transport capsule are accommodated in a pressure-tight vacuum system; and / or a drive system is provided for moving the mass along the length; and / or pressure locks provided by means which the mass to ambient pressure or at least one compared to the vacuum system higher pressure can be brought.

The advantages of the invention are particularly useful over long distances, which in principle could be as long as desired. As minimum values, it is proposed that the superconducting conductor arrangement has a length of at least 10 km, preferably 50 km, in particular preferably 100 km, in particular preferably 1000 km. It does not mean the length of the conductor itself, which can also pass through loops, coils, meanders or the like, but the length of the path of the electromagnetic levitation system or the means of transport. The connection according to the invention of a desired electrical load is delimited by a random, technically conditioned power consumption in the sense of a power loss of the electromagnetic levitation system in that the connected load decreases or can decrease an electrical power, which by a factor of 1, 000, preferably 10,000, in particular preferably 100,000 is above the power dissipation occurring in the superconducting conductor arrangement.

The invention synergistically combines power transport with modern passenger and freight transport. The strong magnetic fields generated by high currents are used, with which magnetic levitation and driving without rolling or sliding friction is almost lossless possible. The ideal conductors for these high electrical currents are high temperature superconductors (HTS). HTS are comparatively easy to cool under the relatively high transition temperature. HTS conduct high DC currents without electrical resistance completely lossless. HTS allow magnetic levitation without losses.

The propulsion of the capsule can be done electrically or on any other method, for which reference is made to the extensive state of the art. In principle, the transport capsule itself can store the drive energy and / or provide the driving force, for. B .: by means of a propeller or recuperative linear motor. Alternatively, the drive energy and / or force of the transport capsule can be supplied from the outside, for example in the form of overpressure according to the principle of the pneumatic tube or by means of a linear motor. In the transport or guide rails, electrical power in the order of magnitude of the new planned for the energy transition power lines can be transmitted. The current can be kept constant with a current control for hovering or the load be adapted accordingly. The energy transport can be adapted to the volatile demand via voltage regulation. Both technologies have been available for several years. While the transport or guide rails according to the invention have the superconductor arrangement for the construction of the magnetic field required for levitation, the necessary counter-magnetic field is provided by permanent magnets fastened to the transport capsule. Their magnetic field therefore has an invariable strength. The above-mentioned current control of the transport or guide rails acts on their entire length. Several differently constructed or loaded simultaneously used on a guide rail transport capsules could therefore not reach the optimum flying height.

Preferably, it is therefore provided that the transport capsule has a device for the construction of a counter magnetic field whose counter magnetic field can interact with the magnetic field of the carrier rail, so that the transport capsule is durable and movable along the carrier rail in suspension. The device is adjustable, which allows an adjustment of the flying height. For this purpose, the device for setting up a countermagnetic field comprises at least one second superconducting conductor arrangement for generating the countermagnetic field. With conventional coils and conductors, the necessary magnetic fields could not be carried in the transport capsule, just as little as the necessary energy supply. Further, a control device for changing the counter magnetic field by varying a current in the second superconducting conductor arrangement is provided. Therefore, several differently constructed or loaded simultaneously used on a guide rail transport capsules could be individually adjusted to their respective optimal fly height. Furthermore, in an adjustment of the flying height by means of current control in the support rail here equally the transport and guide rails in their capacity as a return conductor from the current control includes, although usually only a change in the magnetic field of the support rail is needed.

The control system can monitor, for example, the flying height by means of sensors and regulate the current and, consequently, the strength of the counter magnetic field. The control system may include for generating or regulating the high currents and instead of power electronics, for example, a Unipolardynamo, which operates on the inverse principle of the known unipolar motor. Finally, a cooling device for cooling the second superconducting conductor arrangement is necessarily below its transition temperature. Further, it is possible to drive the device for setting up a reverse magnetic field so that the transport capsule is lowered for braking purposes by reducing the current in the device for establishing a counter magnetic field and provided on the capsule and / or on the route braking elements can be effective. It is even possible by current reversal attraction ie pressing the transport capsule against the brake system possible.

The forces F which can be levitated follow the relation F 1 = 1 x 1 2 x 1 / a <=> a ~ M x 1 2 x L / F, where: 11: current in the superconducting conductor arrangement of the carrier and / or

Guide rail;

12: current in the second superconducting conductor arrangement in the transport capsule; L: length in which magnetic field and counter-magnetic field interact; and a: Distance of superconductors It can be seen that the variable current 12 of the transport capsule has a significant contribution to the force F or distance a, which corresponds to the flying height of the capsule. In contrast, a prior art permanent magnet device for constructing a counter magnetic field can not be varied since the magnetic field has only a certain strength. Moreover, the magnetic fields obtainable with superconductors are several times stronger than current permanent magnets made of rare earth materials. For example, with the Transrapid, only a flying height of about 5 mm was possible, so that demanding tolerances had to be met with great effort during production and operation of the guideway the device for the construction of a counter magnetic field and its advantages with respect to the control of the floating of the transport capsule generally relate to the transport system described here, wherein it does not depend on the existence of an electrical consumer, the outside of the guide track in a Distance from the power feed point is operated by the power. It is therefore further claimed a transport system with a guide track for carrying and guiding an adapted transport capsule for people and / or goods, which is movable along the guide track; an electromagnetic levitation system having at least one carrier and / or guide rail extending along the guide path and having a superconducting conductor arrangement for holding the transport capsule along the guide path in a body contact-free fashion by means of a magnetic field; a cooling system for cooling the superconducting conductor assembly below its transition temperature; a Stromeinspeisepunkt for introducing the current into the superconducting conductor assembly for generating the magnetic field, wherein the transport capsule comprises a device for establishing a counter magnetic field whose counter magnetic field can interact with the magnetic field of the carrier rail, so that the transport capsule along the carrier rail in levy durable and movable, wherein the counter magnetic field contrivance apparatus comprises: a second superconducting conductor assembly for generating the counter magnetic field; a regulating device for varying the reverse magnetic field by varying a current in the second superconductive conductor assembly; a cooling device for cooling the second superconducting conductor assembly below its transition temperature.

With appropriate design, the magnetic field in the interior of the transport capsule by design is close to zero and thus for passengers (with eg pacemaker) no impairment. With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the invention is greatly simplified sketched. It is a Hyperloop system, which is used according to the invention for combined power and material or passenger transport. It is combined with a HTS high-current system and thus represents an extremely energy-efficient realization. The carrier rail 1 is also the forward conductor and generates the supporting magnetic field which the transport capsule 2, also called Hyperloop pod, floats. After the current has left the forward conductor and has flowed through the electrical load, not shown, it is distributed to the two return conductors, which are part of the two guide rails 3. These provide for the lateral guidance within the transport tube 4, which is under negative pressure.

In Fig. 2, an embodiment of the invention is also sketched greatly simplified. 1, in which, however, the controllable device 21 is provided for the construction of a countermagnetic field whose countermagnetic field can interact with the magnetic field of the carrier rail 1, so that the transport capsule can be kept in suspension with adjustable height along the carrier rail is.

Claims

claims

1 . Use of a superconductive conductor arrangement (1, 3) of a given length a) for passing an electrical current over this length through the superconducting conductor arrangement from a current feed point to an electrical load for supplying the load with current to form a magnetic field along the length of the superconducting conductor arrangement; and at the same time b) as an electromagnetic levitation system with a carrier and / or guide rail for a along the superconducting conductor assembly over the length of body-contact-free by means of the magnetic field in levy durable and movable transport capsule (2).

2. Transport system with a guide track (4, 1, 3) for carrying and guiding a adapted transport capsule (2) for people and / or goods, which is movable along the guide track; an electromagnetic levitation system with at least one support (1) and / or guide rail (3) extending along the guide path with a superconducting conductor arrangement for keeping the transport capsule (2) free of body contact along the guide path by means of a magnetic field; a cooling system for cooling the superconducting conductor assembly below its transition temperature; a Stromeinspeisepunkt for introducing the current into the superconducting conductor arrangement for generating the magnetic field, characterized in that an electrical load outside the guide track is arranged at a distance from the power feed point to the superconducting conductor arrangement, which is operated by the current.

Transport system according to claim 2, characterized in that the transport system is designed as a Hyperloop system; and / or the guide path is a pressure-tight under negative pressure driving tube (4) is included; and / or the transport capsule (2) is pressure-tight and can be moved inside the driving tube; and / or the carrier and / or guide rail (1, 3) extends along and inside the transport tube (4);

Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the superconducting conductor arrangement has a current carrying capacity of at least 20 kA, preferably 200 kA.

Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of superconducting conductor arrangement are provided, which are designed as at least forward and return conductors.

Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support rail forms the forward conductor and a plurality of guide rails together form the return conductor.

Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the superconducting conductor arrangement is used in a Hyperloop system as a carrier and / or guide rail and the durable by means of the magnetic force levitating and movable transport capsule is a pressure-tight passenger or goods transport capsule.

8. Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the superconducting conductor arrangement comprises high-temperature superconductor.

9. Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the superconducting conductor arrangement and the transport capsule are housed in a pressure-tight vacuum system; a drive system is provided for moving the mass along the length; Pressure locks provided by means of which the mass to ambient pressure or at least one compared to the vacuum system higher pressure can be brought.

10. Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the superconducting conductor arrangement has a length of at least 10 km, preferably 50 km, in particular preferably 100 km, in particular preferably 1000 km.

1 1. Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical load decreases or can decrease an electrical power, which is by the factor 1, 000, preferably 10,000, in particular preferably 100,000 above the power loss occurring in the superconducting conductor arrangement.

12. Use or transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport capsule (2) has a device (21) for building a counter magnetic field whose counter magnetic field with the magnetic field of the carrier rail (1) can interact, so that the transport capsule along the support rail is durable and movable, wherein the counter magnetic field generating device (21) comprises: a second superconducting conductor assembly for generating the reverse magnetic field, a control device for varying the reverse magnetic field by varying a current in the second superconductive conductor assembly, a cooling device for cooling the second superconducting conductor assembly below their transition temperature.

13. Transport system with a guide track (4, 1, 3) for carrying and guiding a adapted transport capsule (2) for persons and / or goods, which is movable along the guide track; an electromagnetic levitation system with at least one support (1) and / or guide rail (3) extending along the guide path with a superconducting conductor arrangement for keeping the transport capsule (2) free of body contact along the guide path by means of a magnetic field; a cooling system for cooling the superconducting conductor assembly below its transition temperature; a Stromeinspeisepunkt for introducing the current into the superconducting conductor arrangement for generating the magnetic field, characterized in that the transport capsule (2) comprises a device (21) for building a counter magnetic field, whose counter magnetic field with the magnetic field of the support rail (1) can interact, so that the Transport capsule is durable and movable along the carrier rail in suspension, wherein the device (21) for establishing a counter magnetic field comprises: a second superconducting conductor arrangement for generating the counter magnetic field, a control device for varying the counter magnetic field by varying a current in the second superconducting conductor arrangement, a cooling device for cooling the second superconducting conductor arrangement below its transition temperature.