Chapter 1141
Superconducting Cables Disrupt the Power Grid
Instead, a composite cable with a peculiar appearance, exuding a deep, dark blue metallic luster, and resembling the "tendons" of some sleeping behemoth, has been introduced.
Each one is slightly thicker than an adult's arm, and its structure is so dense that you can hardly feel any graininess with the naked eye.
They were precisely "stitched" into the special slots of the tower by the engineering platform.
High-voltage connection scenarios without sparks.
The moment the last section of the "dragon tendon" was tightened and connected to the port of the huge substation conversion hub.
hum...
An extremely deep sound, carrying a metallic resonance and a strange energy resonance, spread silently along the huge cable.
The sound wasn't harsh; instead, it gave one the feeling of a steady pulse starting deep within the earth.
"Report! The main tunnel of the Dragon Tendon is now connected!"
"The Tenglong output port interface is compatible!"
"Qinglong Hub confirms stable reception!"
"Energy flow...without delay or fluctuation!"
"Real-time loss... Monitoring error is less than one part per million! Energy loss cannot be determined!"
Every word spoken by the cold, synthesized electronic voice struck deep into the souls of everyone present.
The next day,
Su Dingping's brows had been furrowed ever since he returned from the military factory.
The roaring machines, the surging electricity, and the ever-present metallic scorching smell in those huge factories cannot conceal the glaring fact that the electricity is silently lost during transmission, turning into meaningless heat on the copper wires.
"Wear or damage? Chief Engineer Su, that's normal!"
An old worker with a dark complexion and hands covered in oil pointed at the busy power distribution station, his voice louder than the roar of the machines.
"Our factory's copper wire is the highest grade! Any better? I've never seen it!"
That little bit of loss is nothing compared to the molten steel and iron that leaks from our factory! The savings are barely enough to fill a tooth gap, let alone maintain those delicate ultra-low loss lines? The cost would be astronomical!
Several younger technicians around him nodded in agreement.
"Old Yang is right! Those wires on the market that claim to have less loss than copper are as brittle as glass. The factory is in a lot of vibration and the environment is harsh. They break down every few days. Considering the cost of stopping work to replace them, it's better to just use copper."
"You mean, a superconductor operating at room temperature and pressure? Chief Engineer Su, that's something out of science fiction! We live in a steel jungle, we have to be realistic!"
Old Yang added another sentence, his tone carrying the confidence of someone who had been through it all.
Su Dingping didn't refute. Reality? He knew where the boundaries of technology lay. The technicians at the military factory were focused on immediate production efficiency; they had their reasons.
But when Su Dingping stood atop the entire "Candle Dragon" project, he saw a completely different view.
“Waste is the thief of efficiency.”
He silently recited it in his heart.
The power transmission lines in front of him twisted and magnified in his mind, becoming the core artery connecting four huge military shipyards and driving new ships of unprecedented tonnage; becoming the "Tenglong" lifeline that will spread across the land of Longxia in the future, supplying blood to thousands of city factories; becoming the key bottleneck restricting the further miniaturization of the stellarator and its adaptation to the heart of the next generation of ships!
Every instance of wasting electrical energy is a reckless squandering of precious fusion energy and a slowdown in the formation of the powerful fleet envisioned in the blueprint.
A strong sense of resentment and urgency burned within him.
Just because others can't do it doesn't mean I can't!
Returning to the core "Dragon Heart" laboratory, it is the complete opposite of the noisy and wild military factory.
A focused silence enveloped the cold gleam of precision instruments and the deep hum of a supercomputer.
The mass production of the "Dragon Scale" alloy has reached a critical stage. The researchers, like ants tightly bound together, have tired but focused expressions on their faces.
Su Dingping looked around, his eyes sharp.
He cannot stop the core project, but the human resources of Longxin Laboratory should not be exhausted while waiting.
Attention everyone!
His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drew everyone's attention.
"The first research group will stay behind to continue optimizing the smelting parameters of Dragon Scale II."
All personnel from Groups Two, Three, and Four will move into the military factory first thing tomorrow morning!
Two tasks.
First, assist in setting up and monitoring Longlin's large-scale production line to ensure both quality and speed! Second, conduct an on-site assessment of the factory's power system losses and provide me with a comprehensive analysis report! I need to know at which stage energy waste is most severe!
The instructions were clear and forceful.
The researchers who were called upon did not hesitate at all, quickly gathering the materials and data boards at hand, and acted swiftly.
Su Dingping, however, returned to his private office, which was filled with documents and sketches, and locked the door.
He dialed his assistant's number.
"Snow Clouds".
"Brother Dingping, I'm here!"
Guo Xueyun's crisp and capable voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Immediately, get me all the books, papers, and reports on superconducting physics and materials science that you can find in the internal databases of major libraries and research institutions, especially those related to high temperature and normal pressure, and even theoretical explorations! Use my highest level of access, and the time... the sooner the better!"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, clearly surprised by this somewhat abrupt order.
"Superconductivity? All the data? Dingping, are you sure? This range..."
"determine."
Su Dingping was resolute.
"Everything! Physical mechanisms, materials science, preparation methods, theoretical models... even just a few assumptions and conjectures, we need them! And quickly!"
"...Understood! Use the fastest method possible to ensure the first batch of data is delivered to your desktop within three hours!"
Guo Xueyun didn't ask any more questions and immediately agreed.
Before long, thick books, smelling of paper, ink, and dust, along with stacks of printed papers and bound internal reports, began to pile up on his huge desk, quickly burying a corner of it.
Su Dingping plunged in like a predator pouncing on its prey, his eyes behind his glasses burning with an almost greedy light. Words, formulas, charts... countless obscure and complex symbols and information were rapidly processing, dissecting, and colliding in his mind.
The sky outside the window changed from white to dark and then back to white again. The food his assistant brought was cooled and reheated on the corner of the table, then taken away again, all without his noticing. When thirsty, he would pick up his water glass and gulp it down. When sleepy, he would vigorously massage his temples. His brain was buzzing under overload, yet his spirit was highly excited.
He was not without purpose.
Deep within the brain, every crucial juncture of the "Candle Dragon" project's future flickers.
Larger power grids require more efficient transmission paths. One of the core driving forces of the maglev train network is the superconducting levitation field. The bottleneck of the range and power of electromagnetic guns lies in the perfect conduction of instantaneous high current... and most importantly.
The "Dragon Star" stellarator itself possesses a massive magnetic confinement system, with those giant, intertwined coils! If the conductors carrying the current inside them are no longer ordinary metals...
"Superconductivity!"
Su Dingping wrote those two words heavily in his notebook, the pen tip almost piercing through the paper.
"If we can achieve this breakthrough, the Dragon Star Core can be reduced in size by at least a quarter! The next generation of fusion engines adapted for the Navy... will become possible!"
The thought made his heart pound.
Behind the technological barriers lies a colossal power capable of disruptive leaps!
On the third day, as he was immersed in the vast ocean of information and lost track of time, there was a gentle knock on his office door.
"Dingping? Is he still alive?"
A voice, slightly teasing yet full of concern, came from outside the door. It was Academician Li Mingde.
Su Dingping rubbed his sore eyes and temporarily looked up from the pile of books.
"Old Li? Please come in!"
The door opened, and two elders, Li Mingde and Hong Zhiqiang, whose temples were gray but who were still in good spirits, walked in together.
Seeing Su Dingping's sunken eyes, stubble on his chin, and the mountain of superconducting data on his desk, the two exchanged a glance, both seeing understanding and a hint of worry in each other's eyes.
Li Mingde walked over, picked up the thick English monograph on the top page about the BCS theory of superconductivity, flipped through it, put it down, and sighed.
"Dingping, we heard...you've been locked up here these past few days, dealing with these tough nuts?"
Hong Zhiqiang patted Su Dingping on the shoulder, his tone concerned.
"Is it about the power loss at the military factory? Although Lao Yang and the others are a bit rough around the edges, copper wire is indeed the best practical solution in the current situation. Superconductivity... especially practical room-temperature superconductivity that can be used in large-scale infrastructure projects, is the holy grail of physics! So many people have poured their whole lives into it and barely made a splash."
Li Mingde added.
"It's good that young people are energetic, but don't get too caught up in the details. The number one core of Project Zhulong is the mass construction of the Tenglong No. 1 power station, and the landing of those forty towering pillars!"
This burden is already as heavy as a mountain. Your breakthrough here is the central nervous system of the entire plan! The path of superconductivity... is too narrow, too bleak, and its effectiveness is a long way off.
He spoke earnestly and sincerely.
"Your energy is limited, so you must use it wisely! If you exhaust yourself, that would be the biggest loss for Longxia!"
The two elderly men's advice came from the bottom of their hearts, filled with concern and protection for Su Dingping and consideration for the overall plan.
Su Dingping stood up and poured two glasses of water for the two senior figures.
His eyes remained bright, unmoved by their persuasion, but instead carrying a hint of excitement at finding his way.
"Mr. Li, Mr. Hong, thank you both for making the special trip to comfort me. I understand what you mean and I am aware of the heavy burden I am currently under."
He took a deep breath, his tone steady yet penetrating.
"However, the future of Zhulong, the future of Longxia, cannot stop at simply solving the problem of existence. What we need is to reach the top! To surpass!"
He walked to the electronic whiteboard on one side of the office and clicked on several pre-prepared simulation diagrams.
"Look! The military factory is just the beginning. In the future, the super power grid composed of forty Tenglong power stations will cover tens of thousands of kilometers! For every kilometer of current transmission, the loss on the copper wire will increase by a percentage."
The accumulated waste will be astronomical! More efficient power transmission is the only way to unleash the full power of Tenglong!
Next, he switched the screen to show a perspective view of the internal structure of the Dragon Star stellarator.
"This is our foundation—the heart of Dragon Star. Magnetic confinement system! These huge superconducting coils now require expensive liquid helium to maintain their cryogenic temperature in order to function."
This limits its size, its efficiency, and, more importantly, the possibility of its miniaturization and application in next-generation ship engines!
He tapped the red-marked coil on the whiteboard, his tone becoming more forceful.
"What if we could achieve a breakthrough in the engineering application of room-temperature and atmospheric-pressure superconducting materials? These massive and fragile cryogenic systems could be significantly simplified or even eliminated! The volume of the Dragon Star core could be conservatively estimated to be reduced by more than 30%! The structure would be more stable, maintenance would be simpler, and energy utilization efficiency would be higher!"
What does this mean? It means that our new generation of fusion engines can be truly adapted to surface ships and even submarines! It means that the Longxia Navy's operational range and endurance will experience a revolutionary leap!
This is not a trivial matter; it is the key to the next era!
It concerns the final, complete form of the Candle Dragon Project! It concerns whether Long Xia can truly wield this fusion sword!
As Li Mingde and Hong Zhiqiang listened to Su Dingping's resounding analysis and watched him sketch out a blueprint for the future on the simulation map as if he were pointing out the future, their expressions gradually changed from worry and persuasion to solemnity and contemplation.
Having immersed themselves in scientific research for many years, the two senior scientists are all too aware of how terrifying a breakthrough in a key material can be for the entire technological system.
They were completely moved by the grand vision that Su Dingping had outlined.
What Su Dingping was referring to was not temporary gains or losses, but a technological high ground that could change the fate of the nation for decades to come!
After a long while, Li Mingde let out a long breath, his eyes gleaming.
"Good lad! Your vision... sees further and higher than the two of us old guys!"
This isn't just getting bogged down in details; it's forging a path to the heavens!
Hong Zhiqiang also slapped his thigh hard.
"Yes! I was almost blinded by the optimal solution for copper wire! Room temperature superconductivity... If it really works, it won't just be a leap forward for the Tenglong power grid, and the miniaturization of Longxing is just the beginning! The entire industrial system, energy structure, and even cutting-edge military applications of Longxia... it will truly be earth-shattering!"
He looked at Su Dingping with a mixture of apology and admiration.
"Dingping, we two old fools almost blocked your way just now. Don't mind us!"
Su Dingping hurriedly said.
"Mr. Hong, you flatter me!"
My parents' reminders were out of love and concern for me, and to ensure the smooth progress of the entire plan.
Li Mingde pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up as he looked at Hong Zhiqiang.
"Old Hong! Tell me, wouldn't you say that guy is a chisel on the road to heaven?"
Hong Zhiqiang immediately realized what was happening and nodded excitedly.
"Oh yeah! How could I forget about him!"
He's been a workhorse, toiling away on this rugged road for almost his entire life! Though his temper is as foul as a rock in a latrine, his skills… might actually be able to spark a debate with Dingping's head!
The two turned to Su Dingping and said almost in unison.
"Dingping! Go find Huaming! Huaming from the 303 Research Institute!"
Hong Zhiqiang quickly added.
"This guy is our old colleague... uh, old friend! When it comes to qualifications for superconductivity research in China, if he considers himself second, no one would dare to claim to be first! Over the decades, from low temperature to high temperature, from theory to material synthesis and purification, there's nothing he doesn't know! (End of Chapter)"