This post was in 2009. I was reading about making superconductors with ceramics. I had the idea that perhaps a superconductor could be a very fast charging / discharging battery. I have not yet actually done this - I need a kiln.
OK, so I need a way to heat an object, minus atmosphere. I want it to be dirt cheap.
I'm not an engineer, so everything I'm reading (which is a ton) is mostly new to me.
I just like to mess around with stuff. This time, I want to make a basic superconductor. So here goes:
List of things needed:
Container which can support a vacuum...first draft idea is a soda can with coiled wire hangar around the inside, cut out the top and replace with a vegetable can lid with holes punched for vacuum pump and thermocouple.
Vacuum pump, valve, and any hose needed.
Thermocouple - simple enough, two dissimilar wires soldered together - I still need to read about how much of a temperature differential I can create with one, as well as whether the temperature of a superconductor matters if it's currently in a vacuum. I'm assuming yes.
Some means to raise the internal temperature of the inner core of the can without requiring air inside. So I've been reading about induction heating - coil of wire, commonly tungsten with a high frequency AC current through it. The element to be heated goes in the middle of the coil - no contact necessary.
So, if I'm going to heat ceramics (necessary for making the superconductor), will they conduct before they have been heated, and will the dissimilarities in elements matter for that process?
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http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/aero/vacuum/
ReplyDeleteThis link has most of what I need in it, from home-made vacuum pump to bell jar.
The only things left for planning are heat transfer and how to place the thermocouple.
OK, slowly gathering information, it's been more than a year, but hey - I did learn Chinese Mandarin after all :P
ReplyDeleteLink list:
Idea here is to use an induction heater to heat the furnace for the ceramics...not sure how that would work if it has to be a vacuum - would induction work on the ceramic?
In any case, here's the induction heater links:
http://hackedgadgets.com/2007/06/22/induction-heating-demonstration/
http://www.richieburnett.co.uk/indheat.html
http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/11/25/diy-induction-heater/
And for keeping the superconductor in an operating temperature - here's a device that generates liquid nitrogen by separating it from the air:
http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2008/08/diy-liquid-nitrogen-generator.html