Applications of superconductivity to electric power systems

The interest in superconducting systems stems from their promise to be more efficient, smaller, and lighter than those made from conventional conductors. The types of applications in which superconductivity has the potential to be effective in an electric power system can be separated into two general classes. The first type includes those technologies in which superconductivity is simply a replacement of existing resistive materials, for example, cables, motors, generators, and transformers. The second type includes technologies that will be enabled by superconductivity and that have little or, at most, limited capability if conventional resistive or other materials are used. Examples are superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) and large fault current limiters (FCL). Before looking at the applications under development the article discusses the discovery and development of superconductivity