Electromagnetic and Thermal Analysis of HTS AC Cable using T-A Formulation

Abstract

Abstract High temperature superconducting (HTS) cables have been developed into various products and attracted wide attention in industrial applications due to their high critical temperature, current density, zero resistance and overcurrent strength. Recently the triaxial YBCO cables are used in AC applications with the consideration of the flexibility and economy of materials. In this paper, the transient electromagnetic thermal characteristics of a triaxial HTS cable are analysed by the T-A formulation and the Thermal-Fluid Coupling Module of the COMSOL software under the condition of alternating current flow. Firstly, the electromagnetic T-A formulation and the basic theory of heat transfer are introduced. Transient magnetic fields, critical current distribution, and magnetization losses are discussed under T-A modelling. To evaluate the thermal behaviour of the cable under normal current conditions, liquid nitrogen laminar flow is coupled with the heat transfer module, while the heat source data are obtained from the previous T-A results.