Open AccessCase study on the US superconducting power transmission program
Author(s) -
E.F. Hammel
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/204643
Subject(s) - power transmission , transmission (telecommunications) , superconductivity , electric power transmission , phenomenon , power (physics) , electrical engineering , electric power , engineering physics , consumption (sociology) , production (economics) , computer science , telecommunications , engineering , physics , condensed matter physics , economics , sociology , quantum mechanics , social science , macroeconomics
After the 1911 discovery of superconductivity (the abrupt loss of electrical resistance in certain materials at very low temperatures), attempts were made to make practical use of this phenomenon. Initially these attempts failed, but in the early 1960s (after 50 years of research) they succeeded. By then, the projected growth in the production and consumption of electrical energy required much higher capacity power transmission capabilities than were available or likely to become available from incremental improvements in existing transmission technology. Since superconductors were capable in principle of transmitting huge amounts of power, research programs to develop and demonstrate superconducting transmission lines were initiated in the US and abroad. The history of the US program, including the participants, their objectives, funding and progress made, is outlined. Since the R&D program was terminated before the technology was completely demonstrated, the reasons for and consequences of this action are discussed in a final section