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A two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2-D/3-D) mixed electrothermal model is proposed for the simulation of quench behavior of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) pancake magnets, where a 2-D electrothermal model is proposed to simulate the YBa2Cu3O $_{7\text{-}\delta}$ (YBCO) subcoil and is coupled with the remaining parts of the YBCO magnet, which are treated as 3-D homogeneous coils. For operating temperature from 30 to 77 K, the quench behavior of four YBCO pancake coils (two Kapton-insulated coils and two TiO2-insulated coils) are simulated. Thermal equilibrium states are found for both Kapton- and TiO2-insulated coils. The thermal conductivity of insulating materials (Kapton, TiO2) significantly affects the equilibrium temperature profiles (ETPs) and the minimum quench energy (MQE), especially for relatively high operating temperature (e.g., 65–77 K). The distributed-temperature-sensing-based (DTS-based) quench detection criterion can be established on ETPs. The effect of the thickness of insulating materials on ETPs and MQEs is relatively weak, especially under relatively low operating temperature. The key parameters of ETP-based quench detection criterion, such as the reference temperature, the peak temperature, and the minimum normal zone size, are obtained for the operating temperature from 30 to 77 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This simulation explores the effects of insulation properties on quench propagation in ReBa 2Cu 3O δ-7-based coils. At present, superconducting magnets primarily use insulators that are electrically and thermally insulating, for example, Kapton. Here, the impact of varying the thermal conductivity of the electrical insulation on quench behavior is reported. In particular, the behavior of a Kapton-insulated coil is compared with one insulated with doped TiO 2, one insulated with “ideal Al 2O 3”, and one noninsulated coil. The effects on minimum quench energy and normal zone propagation behavior are investigated. In addition, a new concept, the current sharing volume (CSV), which accounts for two- or three-dimensional normal zone propagation, is introduced. The CSV is defined as the volume of coil for which the temperature is above the current sharing temperature. The simulation results show that the transverse thermal conductivity and insulation thickness strongly influence the normal zone propagation velocity, thus impacting the quench detection time and hotspot temperature. As expected, the coils insulated with the higher thermal conductivity alternatives exhibited faster normal zone growth and lower hotspot temperatures relative to CSV growth. The impact of improved thermal conductivity of turn-to-turn insulation becomes even greater when distributed sensing replaces voltage-based sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

\YBa2\Cu3\O7-\delta (YBCO) coated conductors (CCs) show great promise for applications, but due to a very slow normal-zone propagation velocity (NZPV), quench detection and protection in YBCO magnets may be difficult. Present YBCO CCs have been developed with a primary focus on maximizing the critical current density for elevated-temperature low-field or low-temperature high-field applications. As the market for magnet applications progresses, it becomes important to consider design parameters such as the thicknesses and properties of all YBCO CC components, with the intent of considering quench-related behaviors as an integral part of the conductor and magnet design processes. Thus, it is important to know the impacts of conductor parameters on quench behavior. Considering that the YBCO layer itself is on the order of a micrometer in thickness, quench behavior must also be considered at this scale length. Here, the highly accurate experimentally validated micrometer-scale 3-D tape model reported in Part I is used to study how variations in CC geometry and material properties affect quench behavior, including the NZPV, hot-spot temperature, and minimum quench energy. The parametric variations focus on quantities that can be most readily modified by CC manufacturers. Based on simulation results, the relative sensitivities of the quench quantities to the parametric variations are calculated to identify which CC design parameters are most impactful on quench behavior. The implications of these results for quench detection and protection are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\YBa2\Cu3\O7 - \delta coated conductors have very slow normal-zone propagation velocity, which renders quench detection and protection very difficult. To develop effective quench detection methods, it is paramount to study the underlying behavior that drives quench propagation at the micrometer-scale level. Toward this end, numerical mixed-dimensional models, composed of multiple high-aspect-ratio thin layers, are developed. The high-aspect-ratio modeling issues are tackled by approximating the thin layers either as a 2-D surface or as an analytical contact resistance interior boundary condition, which also acts as a coupling bridge between the 2-D and 3-D behaviors. The tape models take into account the thermal and electrical physics of each layer in actual conductor dimensions and are implemented using commercial finite-element analysis software. In the first part of this two-part paper, the mixed-dimensional models are introduced and then computationally and experimentally validated. Validations are gauged by comparisons in normal-zone propagation velocity and in the time-dependent voltage and temperature profiles. Results show that the mixed-dimensional models can not only effectively address the high-aspect-ratio modeling issues of thin films but also accurately and efficiently reproduce physical quench phenomena in a coated conductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting power devices are considered for many applications, including airborne applications. For the devices of interest the operating temperature needs to remain around 70 K in order to minimize the weight and volume of the associated cooling system. The use of YBa2Cu3Ox (YBCO) coated conductors allows for operation at fairly high temperature (65-77 K) while maintaining high current carrying capabilities. Unfortunately, when a hot spot is created in a coated conductor wound magnet, the quench propagates so slowly that it cannot be detected using conventional methods and therefore those magnets may remain unprotected. To address this quench detection issue, we must better understand the physics of the quench and the phenomena that drive it so it can be accurately simulated. We have modeled YBCO tapes using Finite Element Analysis to assess the role of the contact resistance between the different layers composing the tape. Indeed, if the temperature rises, the YBCO layer becomes highly resistive and the current redistributes into the stabilization layers. The contact resistance between the YBCO layer and the copper is likely to play a very important role in terms of the current sharing length and voltage difference between the layers. This paper presents a model implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics, simulation results and a discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]