The invention provides an assembly comprising a cryostat and a flat coil layer of superconducting coils for use with a magnetic levitation and/or acceleration motor system of a lithographic apparatus. The cryostat comprises two insulation coverings. The coil layer is arranged between the two coverings. The coverings each comprise an inner plate configured to be cryocooled and an outer plate parallel to the inner plate, and an insulation system with a vacuum layer between the inner and outer plate. The insulation system of said covering comprises a layers of circular bodies, the central axes of these bodies extending perpendicular to the inner and outer plate, and is configured to provide a layer of point contacts between two layers of circular bodies or between a layer of circular bodies and the inner and/or outer plate.

The present disclosure relates to a motor drive system comprising: a fuel cell; a motor, electrically connected to the fuel cell; and, a cryogenic system arranged to contain a cryogen, wherein the fuel cell is arranged to output current to the motor, and wherein the cryogenic system is arranged to communicate a cryogen from the cryogenic system to the fuel cell.

The present disclosure relates to a motor drive system comprising: a fuel cell; a motor, electrically connected to the fuel cell; and, a cryogenic system arranged to contain a cryogen, wherein the fuel cell is arranged to output current to the motor, and wherein the cryogenic system is arranged to communicate a cryogen from the cryogenic system to the fuel cell.

The present disclosure provides a superconducting power generation device and a power generation method. The power generation device includes a superconductor, a conductive coil, a permanent magnet and a cooling medium. The superconductor is made of a second-type superconducting material, and when an ambient temperature is lower than a superconducting critical temperature of the second-type superconducting material, the second-type superconducting material is capable of generating a magnetic levitation force for an outer magnet so as to levitate the permanent magnet. After an acting force is applied to the permanent magnet, the position of the permanent magnet is changed relative to that of the conductive coil, and then, magnetic field distribution around the conductive coil is changed, so that the magnetic flux passing through the coil is changed, an induced electromotive force is generated in the coil, and then, conversion from mechanical energy to electric energy is achieved. By using the device provided by the present disclosure, the conversion from the mechanical energy to the electric energy in an ultra-low temperature environment can be achieved, and thus, problems about energy sources on low-temperature celestial bodies in extrasolar systems are solved.

The present disclosure provides a superconducting power generation device and a power generation method. The power generation device includes a superconductor, a conductive coil, a permanent magnet and a cooling medium. The superconductor is made of a second-type superconducting material, and when an ambient temperature is lower than a superconducting critical temperature of the second-type superconducting material, the second-type superconducting material is capable of generating a magnetic levitation force for an outer magnet so as to levitate the permanent magnet. After an acting force is applied to the permanent magnet, the position of the permanent magnet is changed relative to that of the conductive coil, and then, magnetic field distribution around the conductive coil is changed, so that the magnetic flux passing through the coil is changed, an induced electromotive force is generated in the coil, and then, conversion from mechanical energy to electric energy is achieved. By using the device provided by the present disclosure, the conversion from the mechanical energy to the electric energy in an ultra-low temperature environment can be achieved, and thus, problems about energy sources on low-temperature celestial bodies in extrasolar systems are solved.

A superconducting generator including an armature configured to be rotated via a shaft and a stationary field disposed concentric to and radially outward from the armature. The stationary field including a superconducting field winding and a vacuum vessel having an inner wall of one of a non-magnetic material or a paramagnetic material facing the armature, an opposed outer wall of a ferromagnetic material and a plurality of sidewalls coupling the inner wall and the opposed outer wall. The superconducting field winding is disposed in the vacuum vessel. A wind turbine and method are additionally disclosed. The wind turbine includes a rotor having a plurality of blades. The wind turbine further includes a shaft coupled to the rotor. Moreover, the wind turbine includes the superconducting generator coupled to the rotor via the shaft.

A superconducting generator including an armature configured to be rotated via a shaft and a stationary field disposed concentric to and radially outward from the armature. The stationary field including a superconducting field winding and a vacuum vessel having an inner wall of one of a non-magnetic material or a paramagnetic material facing the armature, an opposed outer wall of a ferromagnetic material and a plurality of sidewalls coupling the inner wall and the opposed outer wall. The superconducting field winding is disposed in the vacuum vessel. A wind turbine and method are additionally disclosed. The wind turbine includes a rotor having a plurality of blades. The wind turbine further includes a shaft coupled to the rotor. Moreover, the wind turbine includes the superconducting generator coupled to the rotor via the shaft.

A nanocomposite comprising crystalline grains in an amorphous matrix, the crystalline grains comprising an iron (Fe)-nickel (Ni) compound and being separated from one another by the amorphous matrix; and one or more barriers between the crystalline grains and the amorphous matrix, the barriers being configured to inhibit growth of the crystalline grains during forming of the crystalline grains, a barrier of the one or more barriers being between a crystalline grain and the amorphous matrix; wherein the amorphous matrix comprises an increased resistivity relative to a resistivity of the crystalline grains; and wherein the amorphous matrix is configured to reduce losses of the crystalline grains caused by a change in a magnetic field applied to the crystalline grains relative to losses of the crystalline grains that occur without the amorphous matrix.

Various implementations of the invention correspond to an improved vortex flux generator. In some implementations of the invention, the improved vortex flux generator includes a magnetic circuit configured to produce a magnetic field; a quench controller configured to provide a variable current; a vortex material configured to form and subsequently dissipate a vortex in response to the variable current, wherein upon formation of the vortex, a magnetic field density surrounding the vortex is urged to decrease, and wherein upon subsequent dissipation of the vortex, the urging to decrease ceases and the magnetic field density increases prior to a reformation of the vortex, and wherein the decrease of the magnetic field density and the increase of the magnetic field density correspond to a modulation of the magnetic field; an inductor disposed in a vicinity of the vortex such that the modulation of the magnetic field induces an electrical current in the inductor; and a dissipation superconductor electrically disposed in parallel with the vortex material and configured to carry, without quenching, an entirety of the variable current during dissipation of the vortex in the vortex material.

Various implementations of the invention correspond to an improved vortex flux generator. In some implementations of the invention, the improved vortex flux generator includes a magnetic circuit configured to produce a magnetic field; a quench controller configured to provide a variable current; a vortex material configured to form and subsequently dissipate a vortex in response to the variable current, wherein upon formation of the vortex, a magnetic field density surrounding the vortex is urged to decrease, and wherein upon subsequent dissipation of the vortex, the urging to decrease ceases and the magnetic field density increases prior to a reformation of the vortex, and wherein the decrease of the magnetic field density and the increase of the magnetic field density correspond to a modulation of the magnetic field; an inductor disposed in a vicinity of the vortex such that the modulation of the magnetic field induces an electrical current in the inductor; and a dissipation superconductor electrically disposed in parallel with the vortex material and configured to carry, without quenching, an entirety of the variable current during dissipation of the vortex in the vortex material.