Development of high temperature superconductive technology and its present condition

The superconductive technology is expected for its application to wide fields such as power generation, transmission and transformation of electricity, and electric storage as a next generation of power technology, because of its feasibility of power processing with high efficiency and density. By recent energetic development, the last step forward its practical use has been approaching. On wire material development, by making reaction region, multiplication by using its continuous synthesis in return, superconductive wire material with 11 meter in length was developed at the end of two years ago. On superconductive cable, by increasing numbers of wire material constructing transposition, its low loss of 0.1 W/m could be achieved. And, on superconductive power storage, a wire material aiming at high magnetic field application difficult to realize by conventional metal superconductors was recently developed. In addition, here were also introduced on superconductive bulky body and magnetic floating bearing as some examples of superconductor. (G.K.)