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1. When Resistance is Zero – The Dream of Lossless Power Becomes Reality
Imagine an electrical transmission system where current flows with zero loss, generates no heat, and creates no electromagnetic interference affecting surrounding equipment. This may sound like science fiction, but it’s becoming a reality thanks to superconducting technology.
When a material’s electrical resistance drops to zero, the entire current becomes “immune” to losses. Superconductors act like a high-speed highway for electrons, enabling energy transmission at high speeds without dissipation. This is a crucial factor for increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and safeguarding modern power transmission systems.
2. What is Superconducting Technology? Why is it Different?
Superconductivity is a special state of matter achieved when certain materials are cooled to a critical temperature, at which their electrical resistance vanishes completely. With no resistance, current can flow indefinitely without loss.
Key Advantages:
- Ultra-High Current Transmission: Capable of transmitting extremely high currents (>10⁵ A/cm²) without generating heat.
- Zero Electromagnetic Interference: Ideal for dense urban areas and sensitive environments as it doesn’t emit electromagnetic noise.
- Enhanced Transmission Efficiency: Significantly reduces energy loss during transmission, leading to substantial operational cost savings.
Two Main Types:
- Low-Temperature Superconductors (LTS): Materials like NbTi and Nb3Sn, requiring cooling with liquid helium (approx. -269°C / 4.2K).
- High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS): Materials such as YBCO and Bi-2223, which can be cooled using more accessible and cost-effective liquid nitrogen (approx. -196°C / 77K). This significantly lowers operational costs.
3. Breakthrough: High-Temperature Superconducting Technology – A Turning Point for Practical Applications
In 1986, scientists Bednorz and Müller unexpectedly discovered superconductivity in ceramic oxide materials – a monumental leap that brought superconductivity much closer to practical application.
Why HTS is Gaining Attention:
- Easier and Cheaper Cooling: Utilizing liquid nitrogen dramatically reduces cooling costs compared to liquid helium.
- Higher Operating Temperatures: HTS materials operate at warmer temperatures, offering greater flexibility in system design.
- Robust Materials: Materials like YBCO boast high current densities and robust mechanical properties.
Initial challenges such as brittleness and susceptibility to mechanical stress have been overcome through advancements in material science and innovative wire encapsulation technologies.
4. Applications of Superconductivity in the Electrical Industry
4.1. Superconducting Power Cables: Lossless, Efficient Routing
- Projects in Tokyo, Copenhagen, Albany, and Long Island have demonstrated that HTS cables can increase current transmission capacity by 5–7 times within existing conduits.
- Highly effective in urban areas: Eliminates the need for extensive excavation, avoids hazardous oil insulation, and reduces environmental impact.
- Minimizes electromagnetic interference: Makes them suitable for sensitive areas like residential zones, hospitals, and commercial centers.
4.2. Superconducting Motors & Generators: Compact, Ultra-Efficient
- 25MW Motors: Reduce weight from 122 tons down to 45–63 tons, offering significant space and weight savings.
- Improved Flexibility: Especially beneficial for warships, electric trains, and maritime applications.
- 26MW Generators: Smaller footprint, offering 0.5% energy savings (equivalent to hundreds of thousands of USD per year), providing substantial operational benefits.
4.3. HTS Transformers: Smaller, Cleaner, Safer
- Oil-Free Operation: Eliminates the risk of oil leaks, enhancing environmental safety.
- Half the Weight: Significantly reduces the weight, allowing for more flexible designs and easier installation.
- Ideal for Urban Installation: Can be installed in high-rise buildings or dense urban centers due to their compact size and enhanced safety.
4.4. Other Electrical Equipment: From Dynamic Power Control to Energy Storage
- Dynamic Synchronous Condensers: Devices for grid synchronization and dynamic voltage regulation.
- Flywheels, SMES (Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage): Advanced energy storage solutions.
- New-Generation MRI Machines: Enabling more powerful and precise medical imaging.
5. Comparison with Traditional Transmission: A Revolution to Reduce Losses
- Traditional transmission typically incurs 7–10% energy loss due to electrical resistance.
- HTS technology can reduce these losses by up to 50%, representing immense energy savings.
- Existing cable infrastructure can significantly increase its capacity without requiring extensive overhauls.
(Figure 5: Three types of superconducting cables under development: single-phase, coaxial single-phase, and triaxial three-phase, cooled by liquid nitrogen and insulated by vacuum tubes.)
6. The Future of Superconductivity in Vietnam
- Major urban centers in Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City) face rapidly increasing electricity demand, putting immense pressure on existing transmission infrastructure, both technically and spatially.
- HTS offers a highly effective solution where land is scarce and expanding grid corridors is challenging, yet increased power capacity is vital.
- With its ability to transmit high currents without increasing voltage, combined with environmental friendliness and zero electromagnetic interference, superconducting cables are perfectly suited for urban areas, hospitals, schools, and commercial centers.
- VPNA, in collaboration with pioneers like LS ELECTRIC Vietnam, is poised to play a leading role in researching, importing, and transferring superconducting technology in the near future, especially as the Vietnamese government actively promotes green energy transition and upgrades the national power grid.
7. Conclusion & Glimpse into the Future
Superconducting technology is no longer confined to the laboratory. It has been, is, and will continue to revolutionize how we build smart, high-efficiency, and environmentally friendly electrical systems.
Leading nations are already applying HTS to solve urban power challenges. Vietnam can fully embrace this wave with a long-term strategy encompassing technology, infrastructure, and human resources. This is not merely a trend, but a key to entering the new era of clean energy in the industrial landscape. superconducting technology
Superconducting Technology – an article by VPNA.
