Thermoelectric Property Dependence on Performance of Peltier Current Leads Under Overcurrent Conditions

Abstract

Superconductivity can potentially provide a solution to the world’s energy needs because superconducting transmission and distribution (T&D) systems can decrease losses and are also capable of integrating renewables into the power grid. At Chubu University we have built a 200-m-class superconducting direct-current T&D system (CASER-2). To minimize heat leakage from the current leads, we investigated thermoelectric materials. The Peltier current lead (PCL) is one of the key technologies that will enhance the performance of superconducting systems: as direct current (DC) flows through the current lead, thermoelectric elements on opposite terminations of the superconducting line can be used to decrease the heat ingress to the cryogenic environment (n-type on one end, p-type on the opposite end). The heat leakage to the cryogenic environment depends on the properties of the thermoelectric materials. In this paper, we estimate the performance of PCLs in cryogenic operations, including the potential for overcurrent operation, through both modeling and experiments at CASER-2.