So we've had 20 years of high temperature superconductors and I cannot help but ask myself why isn't my power cord made out it? In all this time you would expect some kind of applications to be coming through (excepting the odd industrial application).

 

I assume the main prolem is with the engineering side of superconductors. What are the main problems in this field preventing superconductors appearing more often in our lives?

 

Natski

The relativeness of the term "high temperature" possibly plays an important role. Afaik, in the case of superconductors "high temperature" means "even as high as around -100°C".

For the example of electricity-conducting wires you therefore have to ask yourself if the decreased loss of energy due to friction outweights the energy required for the cooling - it probably doesn´t.

Very true.

 

It is not practical to have all wires in a home cooled to such temperatures.