Cable joint for superconducting cables and related techniques
Described are cable joints and related structures and techniques for coupling high temperature superconducting (HTS) cables. A cable joint includes a conductive member having a length which defines the length of the joint and having first and second mounting regions shaped to accept first and second HTS cable with an interface layer comprised of a malleable metal disposed between a surfaces of the first and second mounting regions and surfaces of the first and second HTS cables.
1 . A joint, comprising:
a conductive member comprising a first mounting region and a second mounting region;
a compression structure that compresses a first conductor into the first mounting region and a second conductor into the second mounting region, wherein within the first mounting region, the first conductor comprises a former having one or more channels provided therein and a high temperature superconductor (HTS) tape stack disposed in at least one of the one or more channels of the former; and
a malleable metal disposed between a surface of the first conductor and a mounting surface of the first mounting region of the conductive member.
2 . The joint of claim 1 , wherein the compression structure comprises a clamp.
3 . The joint of claim 1 , wherein the second conductor comprises a high temperature superconductor tape stack.
4 . The joint of claim 1 , wherein the malleable metal is disposed on the mounting surface of the first mounting region in the form of two or more malleable metal strips spaced apart such that in response to the first conductor being disposed on the mounting surface of the first mounting region, the two or more malleable metal strips deform to form a continuous, contiguous interface layer between the first conductor and the conductive member.
5 . The joint of claim 4 , wherein the two or more malleable metal strips comprise indium.
6 . The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first conductor comprises an inner jacket.
7 . The joint of claim 6 , further comprising a conductor plated on the inner jacket.
8 . The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting region is shaped to conform to a shape of the first conductor.
9 . The joint of claim 1 , wherein the conductive member has a double saddle shape.
10 . The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting region comprises a recess in the conductive member and the high temperature superconductor tape stack is within the recess.
11 . A cable joint comprising:
a conductive member having a length which defines the length of the joint, the conductive member having a first mounting region having a shape selected to accept a first high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable, a second mounting region having a shape selected to accept a second HTS cable;
a first HTS cable disposed in the first mounting region of the conductive member, the first HTS cable comprising a former having a plurality of channels and a plurality of high temperature superconductor (HTS) tapes disposed in respective ones of the plurality of channels of the former;
a second HTS cable disposed in the second mounting region of the conductive member;
a first interface layer comprised of a malleable metal disposed between a surface of the first mounting region and a surface of the first HTS cable;
a second interface layer comprised of a malleable metal disposed between a surface of the second mounting region and a surface of the second HTS cable; and
a malleable metal between the first HTS cable and the conductive member.
12 . The cable joint of claim 11 wherein:
the first HTS cable comprises an inner jacket disposed around the former and the plurality of HTS tapes;
a conductive plating disposed over at least a portion of a surface of the inner jacket;
the first and second interface layers are continuous along substantially the entire surfaces of the first and second mounting regions; and
the first interface layer is disposed between the surface of the first mounting region and at least a portion of the surface of the inner jacket of the first HTS cable over which the conductive plating is disposed.
13 . The cable joint of claim 12 further comprising means for holding the first and second HTS cables in the respective first and second mounting regions.
14 . The cable joint of claim 13 wherein the first and second interface layers comprise indium and adhere to respective ones of the first and second mounting regions.