Peltier cooling of superconducting current leads

✍ Scribed by F.K. Gehring; M.E. Hüttner; R.P. Huebener

• Book ID: 104112198
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 496 KB
• Volume: 41
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-2275
• DOI: 10.1016/s0011-2275(01)00124-2

✦ Synopsis

An interesting application of Peltier cooling based on the Peltier materials presently available arises for the cooling of current leads connected to superconducting power electronics. By inserting n-doped and p-doped Peltier tablets at the warm end into the circuit, at their warm side the remaining current leads can be Peltier cooled about 50±60 K below room temperature. We have developed an experimental test apparatus for dc operation up to a current of 200 A. Our experiments, performed with Peltier tablets fabricated from n-doped and p-doped Bi 2 Te 3 , well con®rmed the expected Peltier cooling. From our results we estimate the reduction of the thermal losses (by typically 13%) and of the electric power losses (by typically 10%) due to the insertion of the Peltier tablets. In addition to the dc experiments, we have also carried out similar experiments using 50 Hz ac and a bridge circuit yielding a recti®ed output current. Minimization of the electric contact resistance generated at the surfaces of the Peltier tablets (and of the rectifying diodes required for ac operation) represents an important issue.