Superconductor
Superconductors are materials capable of conducting electricity with zero resistance when cooled to below their critical temperature.
One primary use is in energy distribution, a superconducting power line will suffer no electrical losses even over vast distances. This enables planetwide networks to be set up, able to send electricity from sources in convenient locations (e.g. solar panels near the equator) to consumption sites elsewhere, even on another continent. Without this, cities not located in prime regions for power generation would have to build their own inefficient plants nearby.
A second major use is energy storage. A coil or torus of superconductor can be charged with electricity and so long as it is not placed under load, retain it with zero loss over human-relevant timescales. These devices are known as power coils, and are the primary means of high-energy-density storage for most advanced civilizations since they are inert and require no intermediate steps (such as combustion of a fuel) to get the electricity out. Manufactured in various sizes and capacities, most power coils resemble a disk or loop with a ring of superconductor inside, surrounded by bracing to hold it together against magnetic forces, and a thermal shield to absorb the heat output from superconductivity loss if the coil's temperature gets too high. Power coils make a good energy source for any small device or vehicle which does not require a long operating time.
Usage
Having long ago replaced copper wires, superconductors are found in virtually all modern electrical equipment and infrastructure. A previous series of advancements in materials science resulted in so-called room temperature superconductors able to function in human-habitable conditions without requiring burdensome active cooling systems, most present-day conductors are of this variety.One primary use is in energy distribution, a superconducting power line will suffer no electrical losses even over vast distances. This enables planetwide networks to be set up, able to send electricity from sources in convenient locations (e.g. solar panels near the equator) to consumption sites elsewhere, even on another continent. Without this, cities not located in prime regions for power generation would have to build their own inefficient plants nearby.
A second major use is energy storage. A coil or torus of superconductor can be charged with electricity and so long as it is not placed under load, retain it with zero loss over human-relevant timescales. These devices are known as power coils, and are the primary means of high-energy-density storage for most advanced civilizations since they are inert and require no intermediate steps (such as combustion of a fuel) to get the electricity out. Manufactured in various sizes and capacities, most power coils resemble a disk or loop with a ring of superconductor inside, surrounded by bracing to hold it together against magnetic forces, and a thermal shield to absorb the heat output from superconductivity loss if the coil's temperature gets too high. Power coils make a good energy source for any small device or vehicle which does not require a long operating time.
Item type
Raw Material
Rarity
Ubiquitous, necessity of modern civilization
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