An optimized BSCCO/Ag resonator coil for utility use

AC coils made with BSCCO-2223/Ag tapes and operating in liquid nitrogen have a potential for power related applications, e.g., inductors, transformers and current limiters. High-T/sub c/ tapes are available from several producers, while access to the coil building know-help is still rather limited, The relevant knowledge and technology suitable for making HTS coils for 50-60 Hz operation is being developed as a part of the current project. To verify the technology, several test solenoids and a first full-scale sub-coil have been manufactured. Electromagnetic, thermal and mechanical analysis of the coils is performed. The electromagnetic analysis focuses on the reduction of the radial magnetic field component in the windings. Voltage-current characteristics and the AC loss data obtained from relevant short sample measurements are applied. A good agreement between calculated and measured V-I curves and losses of the coils is found. A remarkable increase of the critical current and the reduction of the AC loss at the coil edges are predicted and confirmed experimentally. With the losses defined, thermal analysis and optimization of the coil structure are performed numerically followed by measurements for verification. The paper reports on the series of coils developed and explains the features of the project.