This summer, when demand for electricity to run pool pumps, fans and air conditioners is at its peak, power customers in Albany, New York, US, will get some extra capacity thanks to new technology from BOC and its partners.
The United States fi rst in-grid high temperature superconductivity system has begun operating, providing enough power for more than 70,000 area households.
The system is designed to eliminate the resistance that causes power losses in traditional copper cables. It is the result of a multi-year project, costing some $27 million, between BOC and partners SuperPower, Inc. of Schenectady, New York, US, and Sumitomo Electric Industries of Osaka, Japan.
Between two power substations belonging to electric utility National Grid, and directly below a major interstate highway, superconducting wire is wrapped to
form 350 meters of cable. To achieve superconductivity, or zero resistance, the wire and cables are cooled inside a vacuum jacket containing liquid nitrogen. The
nitrogen is pumped and cooled continuously by an innovative cryogenic system designed by BOC.
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