JPH04278469A - Superconductor sensor assembly and its assembling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To realize a sensor capable of functioning under the normal operating environment of a superconductor cable and a method for the same. CONSTITUTION: A sensor conductor structure is characterized by a core 40, a peripheral body of an insulating material 44 and a shell of a comformable material surrounding the insulating body for giving the structural strength and completeness. This superconducting material is characterized by the critical temperature and critical magnetic field such that before change in the peripheral temperature and magnetic field affect remarkably a current transmission superconductor combined together therewith to be utilized, the superconducting condition is changed in response to these changes.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

TECHNICAL FIELD This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application No. 07/104,136, filed October 5, 1987, entitled Superconducting Wires and Cables. The disclosure of the original application, Application No. 07/104,136, filed October 5, 1989, is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a sensor for detecting changes in critical parameters affecting superconductors, and to methods and apparatus for using the same.

0003

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that superconductors are constrained to operate within a special criticality known as critical current, as well as critical temperature and critical magnetic field. When the strength of the magnetic field surrounding a current carrying superconductor exceeds a critical value, the conductor suddenly loses its superconducting properties and reverts to the normal current carrying mode for that particular material. When the ambient temperature rises above a critical value, the superconductor similarly rapidly loses its superconducting performance.

Because superconductors used in power transmission applications transmit extremely large currents (on the order of 10,000 amperes) during normal operation, a sudden drop in superconductivity may occur if the entire conductor structure is under non-superconducting conditions. If it were not possible to transmit the entire current at the superconductor itself, it would cause significant physical damage to the superconductor itself and the surrounding structures. The main design feature of superconductors is that they carry high levels of current. A variety of modern superconductor structures have been found to have some provision for shunting large operating currents, which in normal operation can occur when superconductivity is temporarily lost. , transmitting current through an integrally formed non-superconducting structure. Although this "shunt" mode of operation provides desirable protection for the superconducting structure and its associated structures and circuits, the protection of virtually uninterrupted current in this manner is critical. It also masks or suppresses current changes that could provide meaningful warning signals of abnormal or undesirable conditions in the parameters.

For this reason, it is important to detect as early as possible changes in the critical parameters of temperature and magnetic field strength in the immediate surroundings of a superconductor, and to prevent changes in these parameters that could lead to loss of superconductivity. Being prepared is
desired.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For the reasons set forth above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor and method for such a sensor that can function in the normal operating environment of superconductor cables.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor conductor structure realized in a superconducting material that is particularly suitable for use adjacent to a current carrying superconductor to detect changes in critical parameters of the environment. Another object of the invention.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an assembly having an apparatus for generating signals representative of changes in critical parameters in the immediate surroundings of a superconductor.

[0009] Then, before the superconductor reacts to changes in the temperature and magnetic field surrounding the superconductor,
It is another object of the invention to provide an assembly of such a type that is capable of providing a signal representing the signal.

It is yet another object of the present invention to disclose a technique for manufacturing wires to be used as superconducting sensor conductors.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above problems are solved by the constituent elements of the claims.

The present invention has sufficient flexibility, malleability and malleability, and avoids the problems of inelasticity, brittleness, undesirable exposure to the elements and similar problems previously encountered. The present invention makes it possible to manufacture superconducting wires with small diameter and thin wire dimensions, thereby making it possible to form small-diameter superconducting wires that can practically meet increasing application demands. The wires of the present invention are as easy to handle as normal conventional wires, both during installation and during normal supercooling in their operating environment. In yet another application, those thin wires of superconducting material
It is also particularly suitable for use as a superconducting sensor for detecting changes in either the critical ambient magnetic field or the critical temperature of a current carrying superconductor.

To this end, the present invention employs techniques that have heretofore been applied solely in the manufacture of coated heating resistors or thermocouple conductor elements. The unique application of the technology to superconductor fabrication provides the more highly desirable and acceptable results of the present invention.

The sensor conductor structure of the present invention includes a core of superconducting material, a peripheral body of insulating material, and a malleable structure surrounding the insulating body for structural strength and integrity. It is characterized by an outer covering of soft or flexible material. The superconducting material changes its superconducting state in response to changes in its ambient temperature and magnetic field before these changes significantly affect the current carrying superconductor with which it is combined for use. It is characterized by a critical temperature and a critical magnetic field.

Sensing assemblies in accordance with the present invention utilize relatively small, lightweight superconducting sensor conductors whose primary purpose and design is not to deliver large currents to a load and which have little or no shunt performance. , a conductor positioned in close proximity to the superconductor for high current transmission; and a current source (or substituted by a voltmeter) connected to pass a current of relatively small energy across the sensor conductor in a known manner. and an indicator for monitoring the current passing through the sensor conductor to detect changes in the sensor conductor that are indicative of changes in critical parameters surrounding the assembly.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Objects, features and inventive steps of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, the electrical wires 14, 16 include a pair of spaced apart electrical wires 14, 16 held apart from each other within a body of compact insulation contained within a jacket 12.
A jacketed and insulated thermocouple cable 10 is shown represented in a typical length. The wires 14, 16 used as thermocouples are formed of dissimilar metals such as alumel and chromel, while the insulating body is formed of any suitable compactable common material, such as granular magnesium oxide or aluminum oxide. . The jacket 12 is typically formed of a malleable metal such as copper, which is initially used to facilitate the insertion and positioning of the wires 14, 16 and the packing and compacting of the insulating material. and has a larger diameter than that of the finished cable. In the typical manufacture of such cables, the initially large diameter of the jacket, after the insertion of the wires 14, 16 and the insulating material, is one or more, as depicted as 18 in FIG. The mixing assembly is reduced by drawing the mixing assembly through a "reducing" or "pulling" die device. The output of the die apparatus 18 is a finished cable or conductor 30 of a predetermined or desired diameter, as shown in FIG.

With some modifications readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the cable forming techniques described in the previous paragraphs may also be applied to the manufacture of electric heater cables or conductors for ovens and water boilers. , in which the inserted wire is a resistive element held spatially with respect to itself and with respect to the jacket by a body of dense insulating filling.

In the present invention, these manufacturing techniques are applied to the manufacturing of a sensor cable for detecting changes in temperature and magnetic field around a superconductor. As shown in Figure 2, such a sensor cable initially includes a suitable core 40 of superconducting material which may be in rod or particle shape. The core 40 is a compressible insulating material 44 which may be any suitable material known in the art, such as silver, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, or the like.
surrounded by and held within. In the case of a superconducting sensor structure, 44 can be either an electrical conductor or an electrical insulator. 4 in case of heater or thermocouple construction
4 must be an electrical insulator.

The present invention applies this technique to the production of superconductors, in which suitable particulate, non-particle, crystalline materials with flexible or brittle properties are used, as shown in FIG. A solid or fibrous superconducting material 40 is received within a metal envelope 42 . The superconducting material, with or without the compressible insulating layer 44, is easily filled into a larger diameter tube 42 of any length, such as a relatively large 1 inch diameter tube, and then 1
8, the diameter of the jacketed or coated superconductor is reduced and it is substantially elongated. Appropriate cooling steps are incorporated into the drawing and reducing steps by known methods to facilitate passage of the jacket metal through the die.

A jacket 42 formed of copper or other suitable malleable metal, such as stainless steel, houses the core and insulation and provides the structural integrity and integrity of the composite sensor cable. It provides physical support for The sensor cable produced in this manner can be drawn through a die or dies such as 18 shown in FIG. 2 and as previously described.
Made to any suitable and desirable small, thin line size. Such superconducting sensor cables respond quickly and sensitively to changes in external temperature and magnetic field strength conditions.

In another application of this technique to form superconducting wires for use as sensors, superconducting material in the form of rods or granules is surrounded by an insulating layer. Suitable materials for the insulating layer include silver, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide (compressible materials); Teflon, PEAK (non-compressible materials); or similar materials. An outer surrounding layer of copper or other malleable material is used to house the core and insulation layer. The insulating layer not only protects the superconducting material from water vapor and oxygen and atmospheric contaminants, but also protects the superconducting material from contamination by the outer protective/support layer during diameter reduction and any necessary heating/slow cooling/sintering processes. It also protects superconductors from damage. When a compressible insulating layer is used, the sensor is assembled as a core of superconducting material with a compressible insulating material surrounded by a jacket, which is then reduced in diameter by passing it through a series of diameter-reducing dies. . When an incompressible insulating layer is used, the sensor is assembled by first reducing the diameter of the superconducting material core by passing it through a series of diameter reduction dies. This superconducting core wire is then covered with an incompressible insulating layer and placed in a jacket, which in turn causes the jacket to "sang" over the insulating layer covered superconducting core wire. The diameter is reduced by passing it through a die. In both cases, being wrapped in an outer sheath is essential for use as a sensor, as the superconducting core wire maintains its own integrity and exhibits flexibility. It's not a thing.

For example, a suitable sensor cable can be manufactured according to the following examples and notes.

Example 1: One foot of Cu/Nb47%Ti superconducting material with an outside diameter of 0.236 inches is 15% each
Pulled through a series of 45 dies of reduced diameter resulting in a finished size of 0.0063 inches. The wire is run through a plastic extruder and a 3 mil coating of Teflon is applied onto the wire. The 200 feet of this wire is looped to form a 100 foot length. The looped wire is then placed inside a 0.0035 inch wall thick copper tube having an outside diameter of 0.050 inch and a length of approximately 80 feet. The hybrid loop and copper jacket are 0.04 inches in diameter with a final length of 100 feet by two draws, the first die being 0.043 inches and the second die being 0.040 inches. be reduced to. The copper jacket is welded closed near the loop ends of the Teflon-covered superconductor.

Example 2: With one end closed by welding,
A 1 foot long silver tube with an outside diameter of 0.187 inches with a wall thickness of 0.020 is coated with particles (2 to 5 microns) of YBa2
Filled with Cu3O7-x (123). The open end of this tube is crimped closed, and the tube is then 1 foot long with an outside diameter of 0.250 inches and an inside diameter of 0.190 inches, with one end welded closed. placed inside a small copper tube. The silver tube is inserted and the ends are welded. The copper tube is then crushed closed. The hybrid tube is then drawn to an outside diameter of 0.006 inches using 46 dies, each die producing a 15% diameter reduction. Copper and particle Y
2 of a mixed component consisting of a silver tube with Ba2Cu3O7-x
The 00 foot section is looped to form a 100 foot section, which has a 0.0 foot section with 0.008 inches.
Threaded over a 2 inch long magnesium oxide pellet with 2 holes of 32 inch outside diameter. The 100 foot thread threaded through the pellet is inserted into a copper tube having an outside diameter of 0.0415 inches and an inside diameter of 0.034 inches. A hard magnesium oxide pellet having a length of 6 inches and an outside diameter of 0.032 is again inserted into the looped end of the assembly. The tube is reduced at the end a short distance to fit a 0.035 inch draw die. The assembly is then drawn (drawn or squeezed) to an outside diameter of 0.035 inches. The assembly is trimmed back from the loop end to within 1/2 inch of the loop and the tube is then welded closed. The opposite end is left bare with two conductor ends protruding at least three inches from the tube end for electrical connection. The assembly is passed through an annealing oven at 950 degrees Fahrenheit, which temperature is YBa2Cu3
This is for sintering O7-x grains, and the melting point of the silver tube (
960°F).

The diameter reduction is on the order of 400 to 10,000 times, thereby producing a wire-like superconductor having a diameter of 0.010 inches. Obviously, other narrow diameter dimensions can also be produced. However, in such processes, the manufacturing convenience is greatly expanded by the use of filling and reduction steps, and, just as importantly, the superconducting material now encased can be It is also shielded from the outside air during use, which prevents deterioration of the quality of the material or corrosion intrusion into the material.

In a similar manner, a completely thin ductile metallic jacket is already cooled and allows supercooling of the superconducting material during its use.

[0028] The pull die diameter can be reduced by as much as 10,000 times.
Very long superconducting wires can be obtained, and here, for example, due to its superconducting or virtually non-resistance properties with respect to the envisaged purpose, its actual thickness is limited to that of a heating element or a resistor. It can be understood that there is no inherent criticality of

The particular superconducting material to be placed into the envelope and extended is less than that which is filled into the envelope, densely packed and extended, or where thin film/deposit techniques are applied as expected. , is not critical to the inventive concept. Thus, for example, a superconducting material that can be handled by the present invention is liquid helium (4.2
Included are materials that operate at low temperatures, such as the temperature of 100K (K), to high temperatures equal to or higher than the temperature of liquid nitrogen (90K). Such materials include niobium-tin and niobium-titanium alloys (4.2K), Nb3Ge (23K), La-
Ba-Cu-O oxidized sintered body (30K), perovsquitite (35K), A1B1Cu3O7 and (AXB1
-x) CO4, where A represents elements from rare earth metals or yttrium and B represents alkaline earth elements such as Ca, Sr and Ba, Y1Ba2Cu3 where x is close to 7
Contains Ox (91K), K2N1F4 and a ceramic adduct containing bismuth and thallium (125K).

A suitably slender and responsive sensor cable is now described and incorporated into a current carrying superconducting cable with electrical circuitry and signaling devices of the type shown schematically in FIG. When assembled in close proximity, the sensor cable responds immediately to changes in the ambient temperature and magnetic field conditions surrounding the current carrying superconductor and provides an indication of such changes in the following manner.

Referring to FIG. 3, the characteristics are equal to those of the current carrying superconductor cable in which it is incorporated, or
A sensor cable 51 having a lower critical temperature and a lower critical magnetic field is installed in close proximity to the current transmission superconductor cable 55 in parallel and in a manner that can be approximated as being substantially in the same space. . The sensor 51 moves from a first location 61 on the superconductor 55 to a second location 63 that is far away.
a single conductor cable positioned to form a substantially continuous loop extending to a first location 61 and then returning to a first location 61, with terminals 62, 64 on opposite sides of the sensor 51. Both are used to make electrical connections at a first location.

The electrical sensor/detector assembly according to the invention includes a power supply 60 for driving a known current through the sensor cable 51 operating in superconducting mode;
As a result of this arrangement, changes in the electrical resistance of the superconducting sensor caused by changes in the temperature or magnetic field strength of the environment directly surrounding the sensor and the current-carrying superconducting cable in which it is incorporated are changes the known current within from its predetermined value, and this is indicative of a change in the surrounding environment. The current and any changes therein are monitored by a suitable measuring/detecting device 65 of suitable sensitivity, such as a digital ammeter of known design. Similarly, the power supply 60 providing the known current may be any type of commercially available controlled current supply power supply of known design. Basically, the sensor cable 51 is either of the current carrying type so that it operates at the critical temperature or magnetic field of the superconductor, or because the superconducting cable completely resists current outside the critical temperature and magnetic field. Any type that does not allow current to flow there may be used. As a variant thereof, the terminations 62 and 64 of the sensor cable 51 can also be provided at different points along the current carrying superconductor 55.

In FIG. 4, a current transmission superconductor 10
1 has a thin film of conventional conductive material 102 defining a conductive bus strip along an envelope 104. This bus 102 is easily formed by known deposit or film forming techniques, such as those widely used in the printed circuit art. Strips 10 of superconducting material may be formed and deposited by similar techniques on the surface of the bus 102 periodically along its length.
6 is positioned. Each strip is electrically coupled to the bus 102 at a predetermined location, such as 108, and a plurality of conventional conductor wires 112 are coupled to the strip 106 at discrete locations 110 on each strip. . A power supply 114 is connected to bus 102 by line 112 to carry current through the strip. Specifically, one terminal of power supply 114 is connected to the bus, and the other terminal is connected to wire 112 in sequence through sensing device 116 and sequence switch 118. As previously explained, the detector device 116 displays the change in current through each superconducting strip 106 depending on the position of the switch 118. Under normal ambient conditions for its assembly, the resistance of the strip 106 is extremely low and the predetermined current continues to flow without change. When the ambient temperature or magnetic field for the strips 118 exceeds a critical value, one or more loses its superconducting capacity, its resistance increases and approaches "infinity," and the current from the current detector 116 increases. signal and switch 118
The location of the abnormality can be indicated by the location of the . Both switch 118 and detector 116 may be any suitable commercially available product, of which a variety of types exist.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that many other and different embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention and in light of this disclosure. It may be readily understood that, for example, a single conductive sensor extends from a first location on a current carrying superconductor, terminates at a second, more remote location, and Such that a known current is connected to ground at the end of the sensor cable at the remote location from the first location.

[0035] In yet another embodiment of the sensor assembly, the sensor assemblies are electrically isolated from each other, but include:
However, if the sensor cable includes a pair of similar conductors housed within a common jacket, as is the case with the dissimilar thermocouple wires shown in the prior art depicted in FIG. a sensor extending along the current carrying superconductor from the first location in a manner well described hereinbefore;
Similar conductors are then electrically connected to each other at one end of the sensor, such that one of the conductors is oriented in one direction along the superconductor and the other conductor is returned in the other direction, as shown in FIG. A continuous electrical path can also be extended through a pair of conductors in the continuous loop manner previously described in connection with the invention. The electrical connections to the loop-shaped sensor formed in this manner do not differ substantially from the connections and circuitry fully described with reference to FIG.

In yet another embodiment of the sensor assembly, the sensor cable includes a strip of flexible insulating material;
A main current carrying conductor is deposited thereon along the length of the strip using printed circuit technology; with a critical temperature and magnetic field equal to or lower than that of the current carrying conductor to which the sensor is attached. Individual deposits of superconducting material are placed along the length of the strip; and individual conductor wires connect each deposit of superconducting material to the main current carrying conductor and to the detection device and sequence switch. Connect to both.

It is within the scope of the invention that one or more sensors are used integrated into a single current carrying superconductor; different sensors may be spread along different parts of the length of such a superconductor. , it is understood that each sensor provides a separate indication of the condition along a separate length. Moreover, a large number of sensors can be spread out by different lengths from a substantially common starting point, in an overlapping relationship, and approximate axial locations of changes in ambient conditions along the superconductor cable. is required even without multiple overlapping sensors displaying changed conditions. Single monitor/indicator devices may be configured to switch monitor/indicator devices one at a time in a predetermined order by a mechanical or electrical sequential switching device of any known and commercially available design. By momentarily coupling the device, it can be used as a distributed connection for many sensors.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention is intended to cover variations and modifications within the scope of the claims.

[0039]

The present invention provides a sensor that functions in the normal operating environment of a superconductor cable and can be used adjacent to a superconductor to detect changes in critical parameters.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a partial schematic diagram, partially in cross-section, of a typical superconducting thermocouple cable during fabrication using a shaping die according to the prior art; FIG.

FIG. 2 depicts a sensor cable according to the invention, partially in cross-section, during the forming process in die formation;
It is a partial schematic diagram.

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a sensor cable assembly embodying a current carrying superconductor and a coupled sensing circuit according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows the present invention using a number of independent superconducting sensors positioned along the length of a current carrying superconductor formed on the envelope of the current carrying conductor and coupled to a thin film bus conductor. FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of another embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 thermocouple cable, 12 jacket part, 1
4, 16 wire, 17 insulator, 18 die device, 30 conductor, 40 core, 42
tube, 44 insulating material, 51 sensor cable, 55 superconductor cable for current transmission,
60 power supply device, 61, 63 location, 62
, 64 terminal, 65 detection device, 101
Superconductor for current transmission, 102 conductive material,
104 Sheath, 106, 108 Strip, 1
10 location, 112 line, 114 power supply, 116 detection device, 118 switch

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An assembly for detecting changes in ambient magnetic field conditions and ambient temperature conditions surrounding a current carrying superconductor, the conditions being associated with operation of the current carrying superconductor; In an assembly in which the current-carrying superconductor is characterized by a critical temperature of a predetermined value and a critical magnetic field of a predetermined value, said assembly has the following components: a sensor conductor positioned substantially parallel along the length of the superconductor through which the ambient magnetic field condition and temperature condition are sensed; a core of a flexible or malleable material surrounding said core; a critical magnetic field, and the electrical conduction properties of the sensor conductor change in response to changes in the surrounding external magnetic field and changes in the surrounding external temperature with respect to the current transmission superconductor,
comprising a device for creating a potential difference between spatially separated points on the sensor conductor, and sensing a change in the current through the sensor conductor, independent of the current passing through the current carrying superconductor; an apparatus for measuring an electrical circuit coupled to the sensor conductor to determine whether the change in current is caused by a change in ambient magnetic field conditions and ambient temperature conditions with respect to an approaching current-carrying superconductor; An assembly representing a change in electrical conductivity properties of a sensor conductor. 2. The sensor conductor having the central core of superconducting material and the flexible or malleable outer layer is configured to reduce its diameter and compact the material therein. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor conductor is formed by drawing the sensor conductor through a die. 3. The sensor conductor having the central core of superconducting material and the flexible or malleable outer layer has a 400° C.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor conductor is formed by drawing the sensor conductor through a series of dies such that its diameter is reduced by a factor of 10,000. 4. The flexible or malleable material of the sensor conductor is selected from the group comprising copper, lead, silver, gold, aluminum and stainless steel. assembly. 5. The superconducting core material of the sensor conductor comprises niobium tin, niobium titanium and YBa2.
Assembly according to claim 1, such as selected from the group comprising Cu3o7-x. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor conductor is embedded within the current carrying superconductor. 7. The sensor comprises a strip of flexible insulating material having a first current carrying conductor connected thereto and connected at one end to the first conductor. Second
a current carrying conductor is printed, and a second conductor is then separately connected to a deposit of superconducting material provided along said strip and at their other end to a detector device. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, such as: 8. The sensor conductor having an intermediate layer of insulating material substantially concentric with and surrounding the core of superconducting material within the outer layer. Assembly according to paragraph 1. 9. The sensor conductor having the central core of superconducting material, the intermediate layer of compressible insulating material, and the flexible or malleable outer layer is 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensor conductor is formed by drawing the sensor conductor through a die to compact the material therein. 10. The sensor conductor has a central core of superconducting material, the core being reduced in diameter by passing through a series of dies, and then the reduced core is made of an incompressible insulating material. covered with an intermediate layer of material, and finally said covered and reduced core is placed within said flexible or malleable outer layer, and a hybridized sensor conductor is formed of said sensor conductor into one Claims 1 and 2 are formed by drawing through a die to just reduce (squeeze) the diameter of the flexible or malleable outer layer and into contact with the material therein. Assembly according to paragraph 8. 11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the insulating material of the sensor conductor is electrically non-conductive. 12. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the non-conductive, incompressible insulating material of the sensor conductor is selected from the group comprising Teflon and Peek. 13. The core material of the sensor conductor is N
bTi, and the material of the middle incompressible insulating layer is Teflon, and the material of the flexible or malleable outer layer is copper, for sensing low temperature ambient external conditions. An assembly according to claim 8. 14. The core material of the sensor conductor is YB.
a2Cu3O7-x, the material of the middle compressible insulating layer is silver, and the material of the flexible or malleable outer layer is copper, for sensing high temperature ambient external conditions. An assembly according to claim 8. 15. A method for detecting changes in ambient magnetic field and temperature conditions surrounding a current carrying superconductor of the type characterized by a critical temperature of a predetermined value and a critical magnetic field of a predetermined value, comprising: placing a sensor superconductor having a critical temperature and a critical magnetic field of values not greater than predetermined values of corresponding parameters of the body substantially parallel to and close to the current transmitting superconductor; creating a potential difference between separate points on the superconductor for current transmission; Monitor changes in the current flowing through the sensor superconductor that are independent of the current flowing through the current-carrying superconductor to detect changes in the electrical resistance of the sensor that reflect changes in the ambient magnetic field and temperature conditions surrounding the sensor. A method comprising the steps of: 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensor superconductor is embedded within the current carrying superconductor. 17. A method of making a sensor conductor for detecting changes in ambient magnetic field and ambient temperature conditions associated with a body of superconducting material for electrical current transmission, comprising: disposing a layer of insulating material on an outer surface of said body of superconducting material. forming a first coating of superconducting sensor material on an outer surface of the first coating of insulating material; forming a thin film of superconducting sensor material to protect the film; forming a second film of insulating material on an outer surface; applying a potential difference between the ends of the thin film of superconducting material to create an electric current therein; associated with said body of superconducting material for electrical current transmission; measuring changes in the electrical current flowing through the thin film to detect changes in the electrical resistance of the thin film that reflect changes in ambient magnetic field conditions and ambient temperature conditions. 18. The sensor includes a strip of flexible insulating material having a first current carrying conductor connected to a power source and a second current carrying conductor connected at one end to the first conductor. A current carrying conductor is printed and a second conductor is then separately connected to a deposit of superconducting material provided along said strip and at their other end to a detector device. The method according to claim 17. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the thin film is deposited by plasma spray techniques. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the thin film is deposited by extrusion techniques. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the thin film is deposited by sputtering techniques. 22. The method of claim 17, wherein the thin film is deposited by injection molding techniques.