Modeling and simulation of termination resistances in superconducting cables

TL;DR

This paper develops three different DC models to simulate termination resistances in superconducting cables, improving understanding of current distribution and matching experimental results.

Contribution

It introduces three novel models, including a 0D circuit approach and 2D/3D Maxwell formulations, for accurately simulating termination resistances in superconducting cables.

Findings

Models agree well with experimental data

Each model has specific advantages and limitations

The choice of model depends on application needs

Abstract

We address the problem of modeling termination resistances which are largely responsible for the uneven distribution of currents in superconducting cables. For such purpose we present three DC models. In a first model a 0D circuit-like approach considering a continuous E-J relationship is presented. A second model uses the 2D H-Formulation of Maxwell's equations, with a new contribution to the electric field term that takes into account the voltage drop due to termination resistances. A third model, based on the 3D H-Formulation of Maxwell's equations, uses a novel technique to simulate both the termination resistances and the superconducting cable within a compact framework that calculates both contributions using two non-connected domains. Advantages and disadvantages of each model are discussed. Particular applications for which a given model is best fitted are also considered. The models' predictions are in good agreement with experimental results for a stacked-tape cable composed of 4 HTS tapes. Overall, this work presents a palette of three different numerical tools for calculating the current distribution in cables composed of multiples tapes, where the termination resistance is also taken into account. The choice of one model over another depends on the particular application and on the degree of precision needed