Objective
High temperature superconductors (HTS) have an enormous potential for significantly improving existing power systems, such as cables, motors, magnets and generators, because higher power densities and reduced losses can be achieved by replacing copper wires . Superconducting materials will also enable completely new technologies, such as fault current limiters. As examples for innovative applications, advanced energy systems for "all-electrical" ships, off-shore wind mills and transportation systems should be mentioned. Although research on the materials aspects of HTS has been highly successful in the past, the development of low cost - high performance HTS materials remains a key factor for success and requires significantly more basic and applied materials re search, in order to bring these emerging materials to the market. The development of HTS materials for power applications is a highly multidisciplinary task involving chemistry, physics, materials science and electrical engineering. Currently, three quite different routes are addressed:
(i) the construction and implementation of first "real" industrial systems based on HTS materials,
(ii) the development of "coated conductors" that will result in an economic HTS wire production, and
(iii) the controlled nano-engineering of highly textured bulk and thin film materials to enhance flux pinning and thus to improve the material performance.
The planned RTN will strongly accelerate these developments by forming an international research team with leading experts i n different areas, who are willing and keen to train young researchers on a broad range of topics, from basic flux pinning investigations, advanced chemical processing of nano-engineered HTS materials or new concepts for low ac loss conductors, to industrially relevant subjects, such as IPR, quality management or cryogenic engineering. This will result in highly trained human resources that will be needed in the power sector in the very near future.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringthermodynamic engineering
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineering
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssuperconductivity
Call for proposal
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-1
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