Cryogenic DC-DC Boost Converter Employing Superconducting Inductor

Cryogenic power electronics applications, commonly referred to as cryo-converters, offer key advantages over conventional ambient-temperature systems, including higher power density and improved efficiency. This paper presents the experimental analysis of a prototype cryogenic boost converter (cryoboost) operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM), under both room-temperature and cryogenic conditions. The study focuses on the voltage gain behavior. Two different inductors were tested and compared: an air-core copper coil and a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) air-core inductor (BSCCO pancake coil, 4 mm tape). Experimental results demonstrate that the HTS inductor operating at cryogenic temperatures significantly enhances the voltage gain compared to the copper inductor at room temperature. These findings suggest that HTS-based inductors are a promising alternative for high-gain DC-DC converter applications in cryogenic environments.