Cryogenic Roadmap U . S . Department of Energy Superconductivity Program for Electric Systems

This document, originating within the national laboratories and their industrial collaborators, presents a series of suggestions for research and development pertaining to cryogenics. Appendix A is a tabulation of the steering committee members who participated in the development of this document. The editors have primarily used the materials and discussions provided by the steering committee and the 1997 and 1998 cryogenic workshop findings. However, there are added clarifications and suggested outcomes that were not presented in the workshop summaries. Cryogenic systems providing 100-1000 watts of cooling at 65-80 K are required if devices utilizing high-temperature superconductors are to become a part of the national electric power delivery and utilization system. These systems must have lower capital costs and operate more efficiently and reliably then current off the shelf cryogenic systems. In addition, the physical size, maintainability, and operation must not constrain the expected benefits of high temperature superconducting power equipment. This document addresses the various pathways for the development of cryogenic systems that will enable cryogenic systems to advance from the present state-of-the-art to systems meeting these desired characterisitics. Consequently, it is called a “roadmap”. The roadmap provides goals and objectives along with the desired outcomes that may result if these goals and objectives are completed.