18 research outputs found
AC Loss Research of REBCO High-Tc Superconductors Carrying a DC Current in an AC Magnetic Field
No full textAbstractREBCO (REBa2Cu3O7-d, RE stands for rare earth) high temperature superconducting (HTS) coated conductors (CCs) have become the preferred wire choice for HTS applications due to their high current carrying capacity and advanced mechanical properties. In many HTS applications such as HTS synchronous motors, HTS flux pumps and HTS persistent current switches, REBCO CCs, stacks and coils carry DC currents in an AC magnetic field environment, generating AC loss comprising of dynamic loss component arising from dynamic resistance and the magnetization loss component due to the shielding currents.
AC loss behaviours of commercial-available REBCO CCs in such operating conditions haven’t been fully explored with the most prominent research question of how the AC loss and each loss component evolve and behave in the single REBCO CC, REBCO stacks and REBCO coils at different temperatures with various operating conditions. Other interesting open questions are also put forward to underpin relevant engineering applications: how the shielding effect of REBCO CCs influences the eddy current loss in adjacent copper layers at various field orientation; what kind of inherent correlation exists between the asymmetric field-orientation-dependent critical current characteristics and the magnetization loss behaviors; and how the loss behaviours in REBCO stacks and coils differentiate from the REBCO CC; what’s the difference between the REBCO racetrack coil and the REBCO double pancake coil regarding characteristics of the critical current, magnetization loss, dynamic resistance and AC loss under the condition of the combined DC current with the AC magnetic field.
This thesis aims to underpin the REBCO HTS applications and reveal the underlying AC loss mechanism through systematically experimental and numerical research on AC loss and dynamic resistance in REBCO CCs, REBCO stacks and REBCO coils that operate at various electromagnetic conditions and temperatures (65 K ~ 77 K). This research has revealed many new phenomena in the loss evolution process and reached illuminating conclusions.
We uncover the shielding effect of REBCO CCs under various field orientations is dominated by the perpendicular magnetic field component, and so does the reduced eddy current loss in the adjacent copper layers of the copper-superconductor stacks. When exploring the role of asymmetric field-orientation-dependent critical current on the magnetization loss of REBCO CCs, we reveal that the asymmetry of critical current about the ab-peak within the 360 full-field-angle range causes differences in magnetization loss values at the field angles which are in mirror symmetry relative to the ab-plane. Furthermore, it is surprising and contradicting to find that magnetization loss at any given field orientation is unequal between the positive and the negative half-field cycle due to the asymmetry of critical current upon the field reversal. The asymmetric field-orientation dependence of both critical current and magnetization loss becomes more obvious with the increasing magnetic field amplitudes and the decreasing temperatures.
The complicated AC loss evolution process in REBCO CCs under AC magnetic fields and DC currents is probed by demonstrating the striking behaviours: the dynamic loss region and magnetization loss region vary across the conductor width at high magnetic fields or high DC current levels; the (positive) DC current is superposed with the anti-parallel (negative) shielding current at high DC current levels that approaching to the self-critical current, which drives the local current density of one conductor edge to the subcritical stage and leads to one-sided loss generation in each half-cycle. At the liquid nitrogen temperature range, experimental and simulation results exemplify that the AC loss is mostly dominated by magnetization loss when DC current is less than 20% critical current, while dynamic loss makes a comparable, even greater contribution to AC loss when DC current is larger than 50% critical current. The dynamic resistance shows an obvious frequency dependence due to the heating accumulation at high field amplitudes, high DC current levels and high operating temperatures, which provides a useful reference for the application designs of HTS flux pumps and HTS persistent current switches.
Compared with the single REBCO CC, the onset of dynamic resistance/loss in REBCO stacks and REBCO coils is much slower, and the contribution of the dynamic loss component to the AC loss is also much smaller. Dynamic loss in the stack becomes greater than the magnetization loss when the DC current is larger than 70% critical current, while always less than the magnetization loss in the coils when the AC magnetic field is less than 0.1 T. We also conclude that the critical current, magnetization loss and dynamic resistance/loss per unite length in the REBCO racetrack coil is slightly larger than those of the REBCO pancake coil.
The main contribution of this work is to reveal the complex AC loss mechanism in REBOC CCs, stacks and coils carrying DC currents in the AC magnetic field and characterize the loss behaviours via solid experimental measurements and numerical simulations. Meanwhile, the magnetization loss as the dominant loss component is further explored concerning its shielding effect and the asymmetric critical current characteristics. This work exemplifies the underlying nature of AC loss behaviours, providing a valuable reference to understand the loss mechanism and to underpin relevant HTS applications.</p
The Influence of Jc(B) and n-Value on Magnetization Loss and Dynamic Loss in REBCO Coated Conductors
No full textREBCO coated conductors (CCs) carry dc currents under ac magnetic fields in many high temperature superconducting (HTS) applications, such as field windings of rotating machines, flux pumps and persistent current switches. In such operating conditions, magnetization loss due to the shielding currents, and dynamic loss arising from the dynamic resistance in CCs, are critical issues which need to be taken into considerations for the machine design. In this work, magnetization loss and dynamic resistance/loss in a 4-mm-wide REBCO CC were calculated using the 2D H-formulation finite element method (FEM) based on the E-J power law of the CC. Constant Jc, and field-dependent Jc(B) are used in the E-J power law. The influence of n-values on both loss behaviors is also studied when n-values vary from 10 to 100. Our results show that magnetization loss increases with increasing n-value at low magnetic fields while decreases at high magnetic fields. Such opposite n-dependence is attributed to the changing saturation region of the shielding currents when the current-reversal region shrinks. On the contrary, dynamic loss increases with increasing n-value due to the extended dc current flowing region. Furthermore, the high dc current level has a strong influence on the n-dependence of magnetization loss.</p
Theoretical analysis on ac susceptibility measurements of superconductor tapes
No full textPerpendicular ac susceptibility X = X' - jX′ of a superconducting long tape defined by magnetic moment and determined inductively by magnetic flux is calculated using Brandt's technique from a power-law dependence of electric field on sheet current density. The requirements of X measurements to the experimental setup and procedure are discussed based on the calculation results
Dynamic resistance and total loss in small REBCO pancake and racetrack coils carrying DC currents under an AC magnetic field
No full textIn many high-temperature superconducting applications, REBCO (Rare-earth barium copper oxide) coils carry DC currents under AC magnetic fields, such as the field winding of rotating machines, linear synchronous motors and the electro-dynamic suspension system of maglev. In such operating conditions, REBCO coils generate AC loss—total loss which includes the magnetization loss due to the shielding currents, and the dynamic loss arising from dynamic resistance caused by the interaction of DC currents and AC magnetic fields. In this work, dynamic resistance and total loss in a small double pancake coil (DPC) and a small double racetrack coil (DRC) are investigated via experiments in the temperature range between 77 K and 65 K. The DC currents are varied from zero to 70% of the self-field critical currents of the REBCO coils, with AC magnetic fields up to 100 mT. The experimental results in the DPC are well supported by the finite element simulation results using 3D T-A formulation. Our results show that the critical current of the DRC is approximately 2%-5% higher than that of the DPC in the temperature range. For given experimental conditions, the magnetization loss in both coils is much greater than the dynamic loss. The dynamic loss and magnetization loss in the DRC are greater than those in the DPC, which we attribute to the large perpendicular magnetic field component in the straight sections of the DRC
Simulation of Dynamic Resistance and Total Loss of HTS CORC Cables
No full textIn some high temperature superconducting (HTS) applications, HTS coated conductors carry DC current under external AC magnetic fields. Dynamic resistance occurs when the amplitude of the magnetic field is greater than the threshold magnetic field of the coated conductors. The resulting AC loss, termed as total loss, consists of dynamic loss due to dynamic resistance and magnetization loss due to the shielding currents caused by the AC magnetic field. Conductor on round core (CORC) cables wound with HTS coated conductors have attracted broad attention due to their large current-carrying capability and mechanical flexibility for coil applications. However, there has been no report on dynamic resistance and total loss in CORC cables. In this work, we present 3D FEM simulation results on the dynamic resistance and total loss of a spiral tape and three CORC cables, based on the T-A formulation. The number of layers of the CORC cables, the amplitude of the AC magnetic field and transport DC current levels have been varied to study the impact of those parameters on dynamic resistance and total loss of the three CORC cables. The simulation results show that magnetization loss without current in a spiral tape can be analytically estimated by Brandt and Indenbom's theoretical equation for a superconducting strip under perpendicular AC magnetic field with a geometric coefficient 2/π. Furthermore, dynamic resistance of the spiral tape and each tape in a single-layer cable can be predicted by the analytical equation for a strip carrying DC current under perpendicular AC magnetic field, also taking into account the geometric coefficient 2/π. The simulation results also show that the difference of total loss values in the three CORC cables depends on the shielding effect: the more layers of CORC cables, the lower each loss component. The two-layer Cable with each tape in the outer layer sitting on top of the tape in the inner layer has the lowest loss and the highest threshold magnetic field
Dynamic resistance and voltage response of a REBCO bifilar stack under perpendicular DC-biased AC magnetic fields
No full textThe dynamic resistance of REBCO (REBa2Cu3O7-d, RE stands for rare earth), coated conductors (CCs) is a key parameter in many high-temperature superconductor applications where CCs carry DC currents exposed to AC and DC magnetic fields, such as field-triggered persistent current switches, flux pumps, and fault current limiters. In this work, dynamic resistance and dynamic voltage have been studied via experiments and finite element method (FEM) simulations in a REBCO bifilar stack at 77 K, under combined AC and DC magnetic fields with different magnitudes, frequencies, and waveforms. Our results show some distinct features of dynamic resistance and voltage from those under pure AC magnetic fields. With an increasing DC magnetic field, the dynamic resistance exhibits an obvious linearity with the applied AC magnetic field, and becomes less dependent on the AC field frequency. The fundamental frequency of the dynamic voltage under a DC magnetic field becomes the same as that of the applied AC field, which completely differs from the pure AC field case where the fundamental frequency doubles. For the first time, instantaneous threshold field (B th) values are obtained from the dynamic voltage, which are substantially different in the field-increasing and field-decreasing processes. These key differences are attributed to the dominant role of DC magnetic fields in determining the critical current of the superconductor, which significantly dwarfs the influence of AC fields. These new discoveries may help researchers better understand the electromagnetism of superconductors and be useful for relevant applications
Numerical simulation of dynamic loss and total loss in the REBCO tapes under perpendicular AC magnetic fields up to 8 T at 20 K and 50 K
No full textREBCO tapes carry DC current under AC magnetic fields in proposed HTS fusion applications. AC loss will be generated in the process and it is important to understand the AC loss behaviour for safe operation of the fusion magnets. In this work, magnetisation loss (Qm), dynamic resistance (Rdyn), and total loss (Qtotal) in four different REBCO tapes are numerically studied, using the measured JcB,θ and nB,θ, for the magnetic field amplitude applied perpendicularly up to 8 T at 20 K and 50 K, where JcB,θ represents the magnetic field and field angle (θ) dependent critical current density. The peak of Theva JcB,θ data is different from that of other tapes. We artificially shifted the ab-plane peak of Theva JcB,θ to the left by 25° to match the peak value. The newly shifted data is named as Theva-shift, which was also investigated to study the influence of the Theva peak shift on AC loss. The normalised DC transport current level (i = It/Ic0) ranges from 0.05 to 0.9, where the DC current amplitude and the self-critical current of the tape are represented by It and Ic0, respectively. The simulation results show that the AC losses deviate significantly from the Brandt-Indenbom (BI) equation at high magnetic fields. Jc and instantaneous loss curves for different tapes show correlation at high magnetic fields. The simulation results also show how different JcB,θ characteristics for different tapes influence AC losses. When AC loss values are scaled by the self-field critical current, Qm without current and Qtotal with current in the different tapes show a good agreement. It implies that the temperature dependence of the two types of loss can be calculated from a known loss at one temperature and the self-field critical current
Numerical determination of the threshold magnetic field in superconducting strips and coils triggering dynamic resistance
No full textAbstract
The threshold magnetic field is a key parameter for evaluating the current decay caused by dynamic resistance in superconducting windings and magnets. For a DC-carrying superconducting slab under an AC parallel magnetic field, the analytical theory clearly shows that there is only one electric central line (ECL) across the slab width at the onset of dynamic-resistance. However, threshold magnetic fields in superconducting strips and coils have not been fully investigated. Based onthe one-ECL criterion, this paper first presents a method for numerically determining the threshold magnetic field via the evolving internal magnetic field in superconducting strips and coils. By probing transient electromagnetic behaviours, interestingly, we found a distinctive feature of superconducting strips in which a wide region of zero electrical field is observed when dynamic resistance/loss initially occurs. With increasing magnetic fields, this region gradually shrinks and eventually become the ECL. More importantly, this numerical method can analyse the local threshold magnetic field in a targeted coil turn. The ability to quantify threshold magnetic field provides a clear guidance on the acceptable level of ripple and harmonic magnetic fields for coil windings in superconducting maglev trains and field windings of superconducting machines operating at persistent current mode
Dynamic resistance and total loss in a three-tape REBCO stack carrying DC currents in perpendicular AC magnetic fields at 77 K
No full textIn many high-temperature superconducting (HTS) applications, HTS-coated conductors carry a DC current under an external AC magnetic field. In such operating conditions, dynamic resistance will occur when the traversing magnetic flux across the HTS conductors. Consequently, AC loss within the superconductors is composed of the dynamic loss component arising from dynamic resistance and the magnetization loss component due to the AC external magnetic field. This AC loss is one of the critical issues for HTS applications, such as persistent current switches, flux pumps, and rotating machines. In this work, the dynamic resistance and the total loss in a three-tape HTS coated conductor stack were measured at 77 K under perpendicular AC magnetic fields up to 80 mT and DC currents (I dc) up to the critical current (I c). The stack was assembled from three serial-connected 4 mm wide Superpower wires. The measured dynamic resistance results for the stack were well supported by the results from 2D H-formulation finite element modelling (FEM) and broadly agree with the analytical values for stacks. The FEM analysis shows asymmetric transport DC current profiles in the central region of the superconductor. We attribute the result to the superposition of DC currents and the induced subcritical currents which explains why the measured magnetization loss values increase with DC current levels at low magnetic field. The onset of dynamic loss for the stack for low i (I dc/I c) values is much slower when compared to that of the single tape and hence the contribution of the dynamic loss component to the total loss in the stack is much smaller than that of the single tape. Dynamic loss in the stack becomes comparable to the magnetization loss at i = 0.5 and becomes greater than the magnetization loss at i = 0.7. Both magnetization loss and dynamic loss in the stack are smaller than those of the single tape due to shielding effects. The difference between the Q total behaviours in the stack and single tape is due to the variation of the penetration depths of the stack and single tape at the different magnetic field amplitudes
