Superconductors

Two things about superconductors caught my eye today. First there was an article about the decision to build a connection between the Eastern, Western, and Texas power grids (interconnections) out of superconducting materials. "The Tres Amigas renewable energy market hub will be a multi-mile, triangular electricity pathway of Superconductor Electricity Pipelines capable of transferring and balancing many gigawatts of renewable power between the three Interconnections." This represents the first large scale use of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) for one of their most important practical applications.

Why is this important? Take a look at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/diagram5.html showing conversion losses from generating and transmitting electricity. Over 60% of the energy used to generate electricity is lost as heat either in the generating plant or during transmission from the plant to the site of use. HTS eliminates the part of this loss that occurs during transmission.

The second thing was an announcement that HTS just got even "H"igher. "Superconductors.org herein reports the observation of record high superconductivity near 254 Kelvin (-19C, -2F). This temperature critical (Tc) is believed accurate +/- 2 degrees, making this the first material to enter a superconductive state at temperatures commonly found in household freezers." HTS have very complex structures. This newest material is believed to have the formula (Tl₄Ba)Ba₂Ca₂Cu₇O_y and looks like this
Posted by Michael Fuson