Thermal-quench behavior modelling of a fast AC field controlled HTS switch

When a type II superconductor carrying a direct current is subjected to a perpendicular AC magnetic field, a DC voltage can be observed, commonly referred to as “dynamic resistance effect”. This dc voltage appears in a very short time when AC field is applied and disappears quickly when AC field is removed. These advantages make the type II superconductors to be a fast AC-field-actuated HTS switch, which plays an important role in many potential high-temperature superconducting (HTS) applications, especially for HTS flux pumps or HTS magnetic energy storage systems. However, the temperature in the superconductor varies due to this dc voltage and may result in quench for the superconductor. Therefore, it is important to investigate the thermal behavior of an AC-field-actuated HTS switch. In this paper, we build and experimentally verified a 2D electromagnetic-thermal coupled model to investigate the electromagnetic-thermal characteristics of HTS switches in different working conditions. This model can estimate the dynamic voltage rise and the temperature rise of the superconductor. This work is indicative for designing an AC-field-actuated HTS switch in terms of increasing the dc voltage, and enhancing the safety and stability.