4 ms·
The energy could be very low - after all we are really good at insulation.
by ReptileMan 4y ago
The energy could be very low - after all we are really good at insulation.
- londons_explore 4y agoThey are of the same order of magnitude... Big high voltage transmission lines lose ~200 watts per meter in resistive losses when under full load. The electrical energy to keep something 1 meter long at liquid nitrogen temperatures is also ~200 watts, assuming 8 inches of insulation. The resistive losses go down with the square of the power transmitted - so they fall to zero rapidly when not under full load. Cooling losses stay approximately constant. Therefore, I suspect a liquid nitrogen cooled superconducting cable wouldn't work out financially. Math only correct to an order of magnitude...
- zardo 4y agoThe actual trade-off would have to be far better insulation e.g. double wall vacuum insulated stainless pipe. With much higher upfront costs.
- rini17 4y agoSo now you have two problems. Not only liquid nitrogen but also vacuum :)
- themeiguoren 4y agoThis is my own ignorance, but what determines the power carrying capacity of a wire besides melting from the resistance? Could you transmit a lot more wattage through that same line when superconducting?