Modeling and simulation of termination resistances in superconducting cables

The models presented here are used to simulate termination resistances which are largely responsible for the uneven distribution of currents in superconducting cables [1]. For this purpose, four different models are presented. The first is a 0D stationary model, where time enters as a parameter driving the net current in the cable. Being the simplest and fastest, it can be used to obtain a qualitative estimate of the current distributions (described in [2]). The second model, also stationary, is a 2D approach that considers both the actual cross section of the cable, and the dependence of the critical current density with respect to the magnetic field (described in [3]). The third model, also in 2D, is a quasi-static approach where an additional term is added to the electric field to take into account the voltage drop due to termination resistances (described in [2]). The fourth model, also quasi-static, is a 3D approach. Using two non-connected domains, it simulates both the termination resistances and the superconducting cable to calculate the current share in the cable’s strands (described in [2]).

Several implementations for estimating the current share in a 4 tape TSTC cable using Mathematica (0D) and COMSOL (2D and 3D), along with the corresponding experimental data [1] are available for download below.

This model was shared by V. Zermeno and Philip Krüger, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and by M. Takayasu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Downloads

References

1. Takayasu et al. 2012 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 25 014011
2. Zermeno et al. 2014 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 27 124013
3. Zermeno et al. 2015 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 28 085004