Development of a lab-scale High-T_c superconducting power cable

High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cables for power transmission applications are gaining prominence all over the world as the efficiency of power transmission is higher as compared to that of conventional cables. In view of the benefits that can be obtained from usage of HTS cables in future power transmission systems, Applied Superconductivity Laboratory, IIT Kharagpur, in collaboration with Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bangalore and Bruker HTS Gmbh, Germany has developed a lab-scale superconducting cable carrying 800 A (DC) current at low voltages. The HTS cable containing 2G YBCO HTS tapes (of width around 4 mm and thickness of 0.1 mm) as current carrying conductors, wound helically around a copper former is tested for superconductivity in an open liquid nitrogen bath-type cryostat using a DC power supply (0–1000 Amps) and necessary measuring instruments (nano voltmeter, temperature monitor etc.) at Corporate R & D, BHEL, Hyderabad. In the present paper, the Voltage - Current characteristic of the HTS cable along with its development procedure is presented.