Numerical studies of the quench propagation in coated conductors for Fault Current Limiters

A fundamental understanding of the quench phenomenon is crucial in the future design and operation of HTS based Fault Current Limiters (FCLs). The key parameter that quantifies the quenching process in superconductors is the normal zone propagation (NZP) velocity, which is defined as the speed with at which the normal zone expands into the superconducting volume. Recent experimental measurements in YBCO tapes have shown that the NZP velocity in these materials is extremely slow in comparison with theoretical predictions. In the present paper, we compared experimental results with FEM models developed in our group recently. With our models, we have shown that the NZP of YBCO tapes depends strongly on the substrate properties.

Quench propagation in coated conductors for fault current limiters

Bertrand Dutoit, François Roy, Frédéric Sirois

A fundamental understanding of the quench phenomenon is crucial in the future design and operation of high temperature superconductors based fault current limiters. The key parameter that quantifies the quenching process in superconductors is the normal zone propagation (NZP) velocity, which is defined as the speed at which the normal zone expands into the superconducting volume. In the present paper, we used numerical models developed in our group recently to investigate the quench propagation in coated conductors. With our models, we have shown that the NZP in these tapes depends strongly on the substrate properties.

2009

Modeling and Characterization of Coated Conductors Applied to the Design of Superconducting Fault Current Limiters

François Roy

The Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) appears to be a device of great interest to efficiently build the electrical grid of tomorrow. With the recent progress made by the superconducting wires manufacturers, there are needs coming from the industry to evaluate the potential of such devices. In the present thesis work, the behavior under external field and transport current of the last generation of wire is investigated. This study is conduct both experimentally and numerically in order to link the physics occurring at the wires level to the design of SFCLs as a whole. From the nature of the material, the resistance appears non-uniformly in high temperature superconductors. For the purpose of building SFCLs it is important to obtain a fast and uniform resistive transition (quench) when a fault occurs through those conductors. This in order to reduce the local heat generation that may damage the device. This fast quenching property is related to the Normal Zone Propagation Velocity (NZPV). In this work the NZPV is measured using a localized magnetic field to initiate quenches in commercial coated conductors. Those velocities have been measured to be larger than 14 cm/s for pulsed currents above the critical value. The NZPV experiments have demonstrated that the superconductor non-uniformity (generated by the localized field) helps to reduce the initial delay before the quench initiation for transport currents in the range of the critical value. However, for larger transport currents the effect of the non-uniformity on the delay is less important since, with increasing transport current amplitudes, the normal state transition has shown to occur more as a consequence of the heat generated in the stabilizer than as the unique consequence of the advancement of the normal zone in the superconductor. From the experimental measurements, it has been shown that a reduction of the liquid-nitrogen temperature (subcoooled) increases the NZPV. This effect has been observed taking into account of the increase of the critical current associated with the temperature reduction. Nevertheless, it is not clear if it is the heat transfer or the estimation of the critical current that is responsible for this effect. In order to validate the numerical models, time-resolved voltage traces obtained from the experiments have been compared to the outputs of the models. Those are based on the thermal- and electrical-diffusion equations. From the simulations, it has been demonstrated that the NZPV can be increased by three methods: by using a thick diffusive substrate, by inserting a resistive interface between the superconductor and the stabilizer as well as by increasing the heat generation in the stabilizer. In light of those results, it seems that the insertion of a resistive layer is the most promising approach to improve the NZPV in coated conductors. As a matter of fact, a resistive interface increases the normal-zone size and keeps an acceptable temperature level along the conductor during quenches. The present work allowed to simulate the flux-flow regime in coated conductors. Comparing those simulations to experimental data have shown that the power-law may be inappropriate to simulate this regime under weak external magnetic fields. In addition, it appears that the role of transient heat transfer with the surroundings needs to be studied in more details to determine the specifications of a prospected SFCL made of coated conductors.

EPFL2010

3D Modeling of Coupling Between Superconducting Filaments via Resistive Matrix in AC Magnetic Field

Bertrand Dutoit, Francesco Grilli, Yong Yang

The ac loss of superconducting composite depends strongly on coupling between superconducting filaments via the resistive matrix. The established technique for loss reduction using twisted filaments relies on the decoupling of the filaments below a critical coupling field Bc, which increases with the reduction of the twist pitch and the matrix conductivity. Although the concept of Bc may be clearly demonstrated using two infinite slabs of finite length, further details on its correlation with the filament/conductor geometry are not yet available. The main obstacle is due to the fact that any accurate analysis of such a problem must be carried out in 3d. In this paper, we describe the initial results from 3d modeling using Cedrat‘s Flux3D, for which a superconductor module for handling power-law E-J characteristics was developed. Using a simple model of two rectangular superconductors connected through a normal metal, we demonstrate the feasibility for quantitative modeling of their coupling behavior over a wide range of field sweep rates for different conductor geometries. Typical examples were given for cases not addressed by the existing approximate theory, as well as for the evolution of field profile for varying field sweep rate. ample of a very low resistivity in the matrix, it is also suggested that onset of coupling is strongly dependent on the shape of the conductor and individual filaments. Qualitatively speaking, conductors with a large aspect ratio have a greater tendency to couple due to a larger demagnetising effect, as confirmed by experimental studies. While the mechanism that promotes the coupling of the filaments through the resistive matrix in ac magnetic fields is well understood conceptually, quantitative calculation of the critical coupling field is only limited to the simplified scenario of infinite slabs. The main difficulty is that we are dealing with a 3d problem with conductors of finite length and induced currents flowing both along and perpendicular to the long axis. Fortunately 3d calculations of superconductors in magnetic fields are becoming a reality thank to the rapid enhancement in computing power to desktop computers and progress in the implementation of numerical techniques for modeling superconductors.