First Russian long length HTS power cable

Abstract

The Russian R&D Program for superconducting power devices is underway, supported both by government and electric power companies. In this program R&D on HTS power cables is considered as most advanced and close to commercialization. In the framework of the program, several, heavily instrumented, 5m cables have been tested following by the 30m – 3 phase experimental power cable development and testing in 2008–2009. The latest achievement is development and testing of the first long length 3×200m power cable with rating 1.5/2kA–20kV. In parallel with just the cable development the innovative cryogenic system has been developed as well for the cable cooling. The system is using neon as working substance and radial turbo-machines in refrigerator. Cooling power is up to ∼8kW at 65K, inter-maintenance time ∼30,000h. The cryogenic pump with superconducting motor can be used to provide subcooled liquid nitrogen flow ∼0.1–1.5kg/s at 0.1–2.5MPa pressure. After extensive tests at special test facility, HTS power cable and cryogenic system are planning to be installed at some substation in Moscow utility grid. In this review some details about Russian HTS power application program, 200m cable and cryogenic system designs and tests results are presented.