Numerical Simulation of the Performance of High-Temperature Superconducting Coils

The Bulk Superconductivity Group at the University of Cambridge is currently investigating the use of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials in wire and bulk form in order to increase the electrical and magnetic loadings of an axial gap, trapped flux-type superconducting electric machine. As part of this research, accurate 2D axisymmetric and 3D finite element models of superconducting coils have been developed to investigate and simulate their electromagnetic behaviour. Some of the recent advances in analysing the performance of HTS coils are highlighted, including the simulation of in-field performance and increasing the computational speed and accuracy of 3D models. Experimental and simulation results on the DC characterisation of a test circular, epoxy-impregnated HTS coil are used to interpret the effects of degradation due to epoxy impregnation from the coil's ideal performance. With this numerical modelling framework, it is possible to simulate a variety of complex devices in both 2D and 3D over a broad range of electromagnetic situations with good accuracy.