Full-scale R&D of a high-temperature assembled superconductor under the NEDO Frontier Development Project
— Pursuing maximum performance of industrial magnets through R&D of a high-temperature assembled superconductor —
Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (Head office: 2-6-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hideya Moridaira; hereinafter “Furukawa Electric”), Kyoto University (President: Nagahiro Minato), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (President: Kazuhiko Ishimura; hereinafter “AIST”) and High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (Director General: Shoji Asai; hereinafter “KEK”) are working together on the “development of an assembled high-temperature superconductor that will contribute to maximizing the performance of industrial magnets” R&D theme adopted under the FY2025 Advanced Research Program/ Frontier Development Project promoted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (Chairman: Tamotsu Saito; hereinafter “NEDO”).
This program aims to create new industries from 2040 and promote R&D and commercialization of domains (frontier domains) that should be newly addressed as a nation. The current R&D theme aims to achieve revolutionary high-temperature superconducting technology in the “advanced materials” domain, and it is expected to have applications in a wide range of fields including medical devices, particle accelerators, electrical storage and fusion energy.
Overview of the R&D
Currently, each institution is working together to conduct R&D based on the following 5 research topics (A-E).
A: For the design and prototyping of an assembled conductor, a group led by Prof. Amemiya at Kyoto University is working to design and prototype SCSC-IFB cable patented by Kyoto University(note 3) with a 4-layer structure using IFB-REBCO tape(note 1)(note 2). Furukawa Electric is providing the IFB-REBCO tape and design support for high-temperature superconductors.
B: Directed at establishing high-speed laser processing technology, Furukawa Electric and AIST are taking the lead with the aim of increasing multifilament wire manufacturing precision and speed by intermittent laser processing.
C: Toward optimizing the structure and processing parameters of the individual wire strands, efforts are underway to define the dimensional precision and processing parameters suited for SCSC-IFB cable and establish specifications for the optimum laser source.
D: For the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the assembled superconductor, KEK is taking the lead in establishing bending and tensile test methods for assembled conductors, and preparations are underway to evaluate the strain of the conductors using synchrotron radiation.
E: For summarizing the required specifications for actual social implementation, technology requests are being collected from manufacturers of devices using superconductors in each industry, and the work is being carried out by category and based on a set priority order for each application.
Future schedule
By March 2026, it is planned to complete the prototyping and evaluation of a 4-layer SCSC-IFB cable, increasing the precision of high-speed laser processing, optimization of the individual wire structure, establishment of evaluation methods for the mechanical properties of the assembled superconductor and summarization of the required specifications for actual social implementation.
Social impact
The following ripple effects are expected as a result of actual implementation of this conductor.
- Reduced CO₂ emissions through energy-saving, smaller size facilities and electric machineries
- Stronger medical infrastructure through smaller medical accelerators and non-reliance on helium
- Carbon neutrality of air transportation through lighter weight motors for electric aircraft
- Promotion of the hydrogen society through the widespread use of liquid hydrogen cooled superconducting generators
- Transformation of the core power supply from the actual use of small-scale fusion reactors
Definition of the terms
(note 1)REBCO: Rare earth high-temperature superconducting wire. It is a superconducting wire in which thin intermediate layers are deposited on a tape-shaped metal substrate, and a thin oxide superconducting layer made from rare earth (yttrium, gadolinium, etc.), barium and copper is deposited in crystalline form. It becomes a superconductor when cooled to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (minus 196℃), and it is the highest performance material among the commercialized high-temperature superconducting wires with high current density and reduced performance loss in magnetic fields.
(note 2)IFB (Inter-Filament Bridge) -REBCO tape: It is a high-temperature superconducting wire that has superconducting bridges between the filaments, giving it a structure that permits electrical currents to find alternative routes even if there are localized defects. As a result, it possesses more stable electrical current flow and greatly reduced alternating current loss. In addition, because it has excellent flexibility and can be shaped into complex coil forms, there are high expectations for its use in next-generation energy devices.
(note 3)SCSC-IFB cable (Spiral Copper-plated Striated Coated-conductor with Inter-Filament Bridge cable): It is an assembled high-temperature superconductor made using a patent owned by Kyoto University. It has low alternating current loss, ability to transmit high alternating currents and can be bent in the desired direction. Its structure features multiple layers of thin copper-plated multifilament high-temperature superconducting wire wrapped in a spiral around a metal core.
Inquiry
Public Relations Department, Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
E-mail：fec.pub@furukawaelectric.com
Global Communications, Kyoto University
E-mail：comms@mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Prof. Naoyuki Amemiya, Department of Electrical Engineering, Kyoto University
E-mail：prof@asl.kuee.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Public Relations Office, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
E-mail：press@kek.jp
Furukawa Electric Group’s efforts towards the SDGs
Based on the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” adopted by the United Nations, Furukawa Electric Group has formulated the “Furukawa Electric Group Vision 2030” which sets the year 2030 as its target and is advancing efforts with the aim to “Build a sustainable world and make people’s life safe, peaceful and rewarding, Furukawa Electric Group will create solutions for the new generation of global infrastructure combining information, energy and mobility.” Toward the achievement of our Vision 2030, we will take open, agile, and innovative approaches to promote ESG management that aims to increase corporate value over the medium to long term and will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
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