Some Experiments Relating to the Layout of Superconducting Transformers

Abstract

The theoretical disappearance of the electrical resistance of certain materials at extremely low temperatures, the screening effect of superconducting sheet metals toward magnetic fields, and the increase of dielectric strength appearing at very low temperatures in insulating materials seem to make it advisable to construct transformers with super-conducting windings in order to avoid winding losses while saving space and weight. This seems all the more justified as transformers consist of stationary parts only and, by contrast to machines, there are no difficulties arising from sliding contacts and bearings, nor any problems of how to lead mechanical torques into and out of the cooling chambers, and since—thanks to the fact that the magnetic fields of the primary and secondary windings compensate each other to the limit of the resulting transformer field—comparatively high currents can be used in the windings without any field quenching of the superconductivity of the winding wires.