Cryogenic and electrical test results of 30 m HTS power cable

Abstract

In the framework of the Russian R&D Program for HTS power devices, 3×30m cable with operating current of ∼1.5-2 kA and operating voltage of 20 kV was delivered by Russian Scientific R&D Cable Institute as the first stage of the HTS power cables project. Different basic HTS materials, cryostats and current leads were used for the cable design in this essentially research part of the project. The cable is being tested at special test facility for superconducting power devices developed at the R&D Center for Power Engineering. The cryogenic system for the test facility was provided by Stirling. The basic cryogenic system was equipped with a specially developed flow distribution unit. This unit permits variation and control of liquid nitrogen flows, pressures and temperatures in all three cable phases. Dependencies on temperature of critical currents of each phase were measured during cable tests. The results of the project]s first stage were used to develop and produce a 3×200m cable system for Moscow distribution grid. In the paper results of cryogenic system tests and cable electrical tests are presented. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.