Integrated multi-scale approach combining global homogenization and local refinement for multi-field analysis of high-temperature superconducting composite magnets

Second-generation high-temperature superconducting(HTS)conductors,specifically rare earth-barium-copper-oxide(REBCO)coated conductor(CC)tapes,are promising candidates for high-energy and high-field superconducting applications.With respect to epoxy-impregnated REBCO composite magnets that comprise multilayer components,the thermomechanical characteristics of each component differ considerably under extremely low temperatures and strong electromagnetic fields.Traditional numerical models include homogenized orthotropic models,which simplify overall field calculation but miss detailed multi-physics aspects,and full refinement(FR)ones that are thorough but computationally demanding.Herein,we propose an extended multi-scale approach for analyzing the multi-field characteristics of an epoxy-impregnated composite magnet assembled by HTS pancake coils.This approach combines a global homogenization(GH)scheme based on the homogenized electromagnetic T-A model,a method for solving Maxwell's equations for superconducting materials based on the current vector potential T and the magnetic field vector potential A,and a homogenized orthotropic thermoelastic model to assess the electromagnetic and thermoelastic properties at the macroscopic scale.We then identify“dangerous regions”at the macroscopic scale and obtain finer details using a local refinement(LR)scheme to capture the responses of each component material in the HTS composite tapes at the mesoscopic scale.The results of the present GH-LR multi-scale approach agree well with those of the FR scheme and the experimental data in the literature,indicating that the present approach is accurate and efficient.The proposed GH-LR multi-scale approach can serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the risk of failure in large-scale HTS composite magnets.

A Permanent Magnet Linear Synchronous Motor Drive for HTS Maglev Transportation Systems

A permanent magnet linear synchronous motor （PMLSM） for a high temperature superconducting （HTS） maglev system has been studied, including the motor structure, control strategy, and analysis techniques. Finite element analysis （FEA） of magnetic field is conducted to accurately calculate major motor parameters. Equivalent electrical circuit is used to predict the drive＇s steady-state characteristics, and a phase variable model is applied to predict the dynamic performance. Preliminary experiment with a prototype has been made to verify the theoretical analysis and the HTS-PM synchronous driving technology.

Analysis of the Self-Protection Characteristics of a 1.5T Bitter-Like HTS Magnet Operated at 65K

We present a conceptual configuration of a high-temperature superconducting（HTS）magnet made from REBCO（Re=Rare Earth,B=Barium,C=Copper,O=Oxide）annular plates,called a Bitter-like HTS magnet,which can operate in persistent current mode without joint resistance and can be excited by a flux pump and without current leads and a persistent power supply.An REBCO annular magnet which can generate 1.5 T corresponding to the operating current density 80%of critical current density of the magnet at an operating temperature of65 K is conceptually designed.Then the thermal stability of the magnet is numerically simulated by Comsol software.Whein a piece of RBCO annular plate quenches,the maximum released energy is its stored energy because each REBCO annular plate in the Bitter-like magnet is in parallel.To calculate the stored energy in the REBCO annular plate,the inductance of every annular plate,including self-inductance and mutual inductance,is calculated.Compared with the minimum quench energy（MQE）and stored energy in one REBCO annular plate,the stored energy in one REBCO annular plate is always smaller than the MQE,and the REBCO annular plate will not be damaged even though the stored energy in the REBCO annular plate is fully released,which indicates that this 1.5 T Bitter-like magnet has the property of self-protection.

Review of high temperature superconducting flux pumps

High temperature superconducting(HTS)magnets conduct DC currents ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of amperes.To achieve such DC output amplitudes,conventional power supplies are unsuitable,owing to their extreme cost,energy consumption,and bulkiness.The indispensable current leads of conventional power supplies carrying large DC current cause an extra heat leakage into the cryogenic system,thus increasing the number of required cryocoolers.A potential solution to tackle this problem,however,is to use HTS flux pumps that inject a large amount of DC current into the HTS magnet in a wireless fashion,thereby eliminating the need for current leads,and allow the magnets to work in the quasi‐persistent current mode.Compared with the conventional power supplies,the flux pumps offer the advantages of low cost,low energy consumption,and compact size,etc.,which essentially have broad application prospects in nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR/MRI),fusion,particle accelerators,superconducting electric machine,maglev train,etc.Over the last decade,a variety of HTS flux pumps have been invented with improved DC outputs,reaching over kiloamperes.Moreover,those flux pumps have different working principles,structures and operation strategies.In this paper,we provide an in‐depth review on the HTS flux pumps developed in the last decade.In particular,for the HTS travelling wave flux pumps and HTS transformer‐rectifier flux pumps,the discussions are focused on their working principles and technical advances.In the end,we discuss the present applications of HTS flux pumps,along with their potential future applications.