Applications of high-temperature superconducting coils as inductors in switching power supplies

Chokes and inductors made from high-temperature ceramic superconducting (HTS) wires offer a new range of design and performance possibilities for high-power converters by making possible near-lossless inductances. Cryogenically cooled inductors and cryogenically integrated electronics offer substantial design advantages in high-power converters that are discussed. Such power supplies can operate efficiently at low frequencies, thereby reducing semiconductor switching losses, decreasing heat sinking requirements, and lowering demands on circuit capacitors. Use of HTS inductors results in power converters up to 50% smaller in size in multimegawatt installations, while still achieving considerably improved operating efficiencies and greatly simplified heat rejection. The installed cost may be 30-50% less than for conventional designs.<>