An apparatus (1) for current conditioning, havinga primary coil (2) of electrically conducting material, anda plurality of secondary coils (3, 3a-3l) of superconductor material, with the secondary coils inductively coupled to the primary coil, wherein at least a part of the secondary coils are arranged laterally shifted to each other with respect to a direction (18) of a primary magnetic flux (20) of the primary coil. At least a part of the secondary coils are arranged axially shifted to each other with respect to the direction (18) of a primary magnetic flux (20) of the primary coil (2). At least for the part of the secondary coils that are laterally shifted to each other, electrically insulating material (5) is provided between the secondary coils. The current conditioning apparatus allows a smoother increase of the inductance of the primary coil when the primary current increases.

A device (10) for a current limiter is described, the device (10) comprising: at least one coil assembly (12) adapted to carry a current, the coil assembly (12) comprising: a first coil (14), comprising a first superconducting element, adapted to carry a first portion of said current, and a second coil (16), comprising a second superconducting element, adapted to carry a second portion of said current, wherein said first and second coils (14, 16) are arranged such that, when said first and second superconducting elements are each in a superconducting state and said coil assembly (12) carries said current, a magnetic field generated by said first portion of said current in said first coil (14) is substantially cancelled by a magnetic field generated by said second portion of said current in said second coil (16); and wherein said device is adapted such that, in use, the first superconducting element carries a higher proportion of said current than the second superconducting element. The device may be used in a superconducting fault current limiter to provide a low inductance during normal operation and a rapid and even quench under fault current conditions.

A superconductor current limiting device comprising a leak-tight enclosure having two apertures arranged to allow a circulation of a cryogenic fluid, a superconductor busbar, and an inductor comprising two poles arranged inside the leak-tight enclosure and disposed facing a central part of the superconductor busbar. Each of the two poles of the inductor is electrically connected to a terminal part of the superconductor busbar via a connection link to one of the two poles.

An oxide superconducting wire includes: a laminate which is formed by laminating a tape-shaped base, an intermediate layer, and an oxide superconducting layer; a first protective layer which is formed of Ag or an Ag alloy and is laminated on a main surface of the oxide superconducting layer of the laminate; a second protective layer which is formed of Cu or a Cu alloy, is laminated on a main surface of the first protective layer by performing film formation one or more times, and has a thickness of 0.3 m to 10 m; and a stabilization layer which is bonded to a main surface of the second protective layer with a solder layer interposed therebetween, wherein the second protective layer is formed to have a thickness of equal to or less than 2.1 m per film formation.

A hybrid superconductive device for stabilizing an electric grid comprises (a) a magnetic core arrangement at least partially carrying an AC winding the AC winding connectable to an AC circuit for a current to be limited in the event of a fault; (b) at least one superconductive coil configured for storing electromagnetic energy; the superconductive coil magnetically coupled with the core arrangement and saturating the magnetic core arrangement during use. The hybrid superconductive device further comprises a switch unit preprogrammed for switching electric current patterns corresponding to the following modes: at least partially charging the superconductive coil; a standby mode when the superconductive coil is looped back; and at least partially discharging the superconductive coil into the circuit. Optionally, hybrid superconductive device comprises at least one passage located within said magnetic flux. The passage conducts a material flow comprising components magnetically separable by said magnetic flux.

An electromagnet assembly has an outer shield coil assembly having a first end and a second end, and further has a housing having a first end wall and a second end wall spaced apart from one another by a side wall. The outer shield coil assembly and housing are centered on a common assembly axis. A first support pin extends between and couples the first end wall of the housing and the first end of the outer shield coil assembly. A second support pin extends between and couples the second end wall of the housing and the second end of the outer shield coil assembly. Hence the outer shield coil assembly is carried by the housing by the pins. The coupling of the end walls of the housing and ends of the outer shield coil assembly is configured to prevent relative radial and rotational movement between the outer shield coil assembly and the housing.

A fault current limiter, including: an inductor, a direct current circuit breaker, a shunt resistor, and a first fixed resistor. The inductor includes wound superconducting wires. The direct current circuit breaker and the inductor are connected in series to form a series branch. The shunt resistor is connected in parallel to the series branch. The first fixed resistor is connected in parallel to the direct current circuit breaker.

A fault current limiter, including: two inductors, a direct current circuit breaker, a shunt resistor, a first fixed resistor, and metal oxide arresters. The two inductors include wound superconducting wires. The inductors have identical number of windings and identical structure. Magnetic fluxes of the inductors are forward coupled, and the inductors are connected in parallel to form a superconducting inductor structure. The direct current circuit breaker and the superconducting inductor structure are connected in series to form a series branch. The shunt resistor is connected in parallel to the series branch. The first fixed resistor is connected in parallel to the direct current circuit breaker. The metal oxide arresters are two in number, and are connected to two ends of the inductors in parallel.

A current limiter comprises a plurality of electrically conductive wires shaped to define two or more primary coils, the primary coils being connected in parallel; and at least one electrically superconductive element shaped to define a secondary coil, wherein the primary coils are magnetically coupled to the or each secondary coil.

A fault current limiter of the type having at least one elongated core biased magnetically towards saturation by means of a surrounding magnetic field, and an AC coil surrounding the core, the fault current limiter including: an elongated core having a variable cross section along the axis of the core in the vicinity of the AC coil, providing increased saturation of the core and enhanced fault current limiting for a lower DC bias.