Application of high-T/sub c/ superconductors in aluminum electrolysis plants

The electric power system in an aluminum electrolysis plant has several features that may advocate use of superconducting technology: high power, low voltage, system compactness, direct current, and substantial conductor cost and losses per meter. Two case studies where the cost of conventional busbar conductors is compared with the predicted cost of a future nitrogen-cooled high-amperage superconductor based on Ag/BSCCO tapes are carried out. To be an attractive alternative the investment and capitalized operational costs of a superconducting line should not exceed USD 70 per meter per kiloampere rating. Simplified estimates of cost and properties of a superconducting cable show that these requirements are very hard to satisfy, even if long lengths of Ag/BSCCO tapes with operating current densities as high as 50 kA/cm/sup 2/ become available.<>