Superconducting energy storage for military use

Can superconducting materials improve the military?

In particular, superconducting materials could enable significant military improvements in: Magnetic Field Sensors with greatly increased sensitivity for improved detection and identification capability. The magnetic field sensor with LTS materials could lead to improved mine detectors.

Why do we use superconducting magnetic energy storage?

Due to the energy requirements of refrigeration and the high cost of superconducting wire, SMES is currently used for short duration energy storage. Therefore, SMES is most commonly devoted to improving power quality. There are several reasons for using superconducting magnetic energy storage instead of other energy storage methods.

Can superconductors be used in the military?

The Defense Science Board was tasked to study the military system applications of superconductors. The Task Force found a number of superconductivity applications that could result in significant new military capabilities, including electronics and high power applications.

What is a superconducting substation?

The substation, which integrates a superconducting magnetic energy storage device, a superconducting fault current limiter, a superconducting transformer and an AC superconducting transmission cable, can enhance the stability and reliability of the grid, improve the power quality and decrease the system losses (Xiao et al., 2012).

How to increase energy stored in SMEs?

Methods to increase the energy stored in SMES often resort to large-scale storage units. As with other superconducting applications, cryogenics are a necessity. A robust mechanical structure is usually required to contain the very large Lorentz forces generated by and on the magnet coils.

What are the applications of superconducting power?

Some application scenarios such as superconducting electric power cables and superconducting maglev trains for big cities, superconducting power station connected to renewable energy network, and liquid hydrogen or LNG cooled electric power generation/transmission/storage system at ports or power plants may achieve commercialization in the future.