Attack-Proof Power Line to be Installed Under NY

Podcaster writes "American Superconductor Corporation and Con Edison have announced a joint effort to develop and deploy a new system that utilizes high temperature superconductor power cable technology in Con Edison's grid in New York City. The project, called Project Hydra, will aim to establish 'Secure Super Grids' that can withstand extreme weather and terrorist attacks."

Comments

Re:PFFT...

[Tackhead]

> screw terrorism, screw weather, is it BACKHOE proof?

Depends on the backhoe, doesn't it? An God-fearing American backhoe will do what comes naturally - severing both the power cable and the jacket that carries the liquid nitrogen coolant.

But a terrorist backhoe, that's the problem. It'll happily chomp away at the cable, knowing that as soon as it breaks the liquid nitrogen containment, its innocent operator will notice the plume of boiling liquid nitrogen, and immediately throw it into reverse!

A few moments later, the intact cable warms up just enough to becomes the world's longest fusible link. The innocent operator then blamed while the terrorist backhoe diesels quietly in the background, unnoticed by all.

I'd tell you more about the threat of terrorist backhoes, but it'll take at least hundred million in funding.

Re:Reasons why NYC needs 'Team Hydra'

[Deagol]

I assume you're referring to the interstate highway system? I could certainly live w/o the Feds holding highway funding over state's heads when they try to show an ounce of sovereignty. State-level roads are sufficient. The US economy would not collapse if the interstate highway system suddenly vanished. Hell, maybe the rotting US rail system would get a much needed kick in the ass as a result. :)

Re:Reasons why NYC needs 'Team Hydra'

[LiquidCoooled]

That sounds like the superconducting array embedded within the scrith of the RingWorld ;)

I wonder if you could make use of the EM field which that will give off or if it will effect us in some way?

Re:Reasons why NYC needs 'Team Hydra'

[mikael]

Natural disasters are fine, but have any NYC blackouts in recent decades been caused by nature, or have they all been SNAFU?

Not NYC, but there was a major power failure in the Bay Area when construction workers accidently earthed the entire grid. They threw a grounding switch before disconnecting power lines from the grid for regular maintenance work. The entire region went down. We figured it wasn't just our office when workers from the other office blocks started pouring out of their offces onto the streets.

The following web site has a list of power failures and their causes. The weirdest one is:

June 21 San Francisco
Tangled hen causes power mess The fowl was tied to about a dozen helium balloons and set adrift and floated into power lines

Re:Reasons why NYC needs 'Team Hydra'

[Deagol]

Brick is a far better source of thermal mass than wood. In the winter, it soaks up heat from the sun, which helps to keep the place warmer at night. In the summer, we open the windows at night, and enjoy the cool interior during the day. Indeed, low humidity in the summer (average of 10% in these parts) helps very much in staying cool in the summer.

Adobe and other earth-made homes in the southwest are a tried-and-true low tech method for reducing power consumption.