Numerical investigation of current distributions around defects in high temperature superconducting CORC® cables

High performance ReBCO magnet prototypes are typically monitored and protected with voltage measurements, however a variance in safe operating limits has been observed. A potential issue arises from current redistribution phenomena associated with unidentified defects in cables composed of ReBCO tapes. In this work, a network model is developed to simulate current and voltage distributions around defects in CORC (R) cables. The evolving network of conductor overlap is evaluated. Trends in CORC (R) operation at 77 K are presented, and it is shown that power dissipation in an I-V curve depends strongly on a third dimension of defect magnitude. The predictive tool is then coupled with a differential evolution algorithm to recommend optimal CORC (R) layering topologies based on reel-to-reel tape measurements. The developed model facilitates understanding of CORC (R) cable phenomena, and the results suggest high temperature superconducting magnet protection can be improved with cable and defect characterization efforts.

Automated summary

A network model is developed to simulate current and voltage distributions around defects in ReBCO tape cables. The results show that the power dissipation in the I-V curve strongly depends on the magnitude of the defect. Additionally, optimal cable layering topologies are recommended based on reel-to-reel tape measurements using a differential evolution algorithm.