A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> Formulation

The no-insulation (NI) technique improves the stability and defect-tolerance of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils by enabling current redistribution, thereby reducing the risk of quenching. NI–HTS coils are widely applied in DC systems such as high-field magnets and superconducting field...

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Main Authors: Zhihao He, Yingzhen Liu, Chenyi Yang, Jiannan Yang, Jing Ou, Chengming Zhang, Ming Yan, Liyi Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/14/3669
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author Zhihao He
Yingzhen Liu
Chenyi Yang
Jiannan Yang
Jing Ou
Chengming Zhang
Ming Yan
Liyi Li
author_facet Zhihao He
Yingzhen Liu
Chenyi Yang
Jiannan Yang
Jing Ou
Chengming Zhang
Ming Yan
Liyi Li
author_sort Zhihao He
collection DOAJ
description The no-insulation (NI) technique improves the stability and defect-tolerance of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils by enabling current redistribution, thereby reducing the risk of quenching. NI–HTS coils are widely applied in DC systems such as high-field magnets and superconducting field coils for electric machines. However, the presence of turn-to-turn contact resistance makes current distribution uneven, rendering traditional simulation methods unsuitable. To address this, a finite element method (FEM) based on the <i>T–A</i> formulation is proposed. This model solves coupled equations for the magnetic vector potential (<i>A</i>) and current vector potential (<i>T</i>), incorporating turn-to-turn contact resistance and anisotropic conductivity. The thin-strip approximation simplifies second-generation HTS materials as one-dimensional conductors, and a homogenization technique further reduces computational time by averaging the properties between turns, although it may limit the resolution of localized inter-turn effects. To verify the model’s accuracy, simulation results are compared against the <i>H</i> formulation, distributed circuit network (DCN) model, and experimental data. The proposed <i>T–A</i> model accurately reproduces key transient characteristics, including magnetic field evolution and radial current distribution, in both circular and racetrack NI coils. These results confirm the model’s potential as an efficient and reliable tool for transient electromagnetic analysis of NI–HTS coils.
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spelling doaj-art-e67384c012fb4f5a871bb299f1672d1f2025-08-20T03:36:19ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-07-011814366910.3390/en18143669A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> FormulationZhihao He0Yingzhen Liu1Chenyi Yang2Jiannan Yang3Jing Ou4Chengming Zhang5Ming Yan6Liyi Li7School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaShaanxi Aviation Electrical Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710065, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaThe no-insulation (NI) technique improves the stability and defect-tolerance of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils by enabling current redistribution, thereby reducing the risk of quenching. NI–HTS coils are widely applied in DC systems such as high-field magnets and superconducting field coils for electric machines. However, the presence of turn-to-turn contact resistance makes current distribution uneven, rendering traditional simulation methods unsuitable. To address this, a finite element method (FEM) based on the <i>T–A</i> formulation is proposed. This model solves coupled equations for the magnetic vector potential (<i>A</i>) and current vector potential (<i>T</i>), incorporating turn-to-turn contact resistance and anisotropic conductivity. The thin-strip approximation simplifies second-generation HTS materials as one-dimensional conductors, and a homogenization technique further reduces computational time by averaging the properties between turns, although it may limit the resolution of localized inter-turn effects. To verify the model’s accuracy, simulation results are compared against the <i>H</i> formulation, distributed circuit network (DCN) model, and experimental data. The proposed <i>T–A</i> model accurately reproduces key transient characteristics, including magnetic field evolution and radial current distribution, in both circular and racetrack NI coils. These results confirm the model’s potential as an efficient and reliable tool for transient electromagnetic analysis of NI–HTS coils.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/14/3669finite element method (FEM)no-insulation (NI) coil<i>T–A</i> formulationtransient analysis
spellingShingle Zhihao He
Yingzhen Liu
Chenyi Yang
Jiannan Yang
Jing Ou
Chengming Zhang
Ming Yan
Liyi Li
A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> Formulation
Energies
finite element method (FEM)
no-insulation (NI) coil
<i>T–A</i> formulation
transient analysis
title A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> Formulation
title_full A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> Formulation
title_fullStr A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> Formulation
title_full_unstemmed A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> Formulation
title_short A Simulation Model for the Transient Characteristics of No-Insulation Superconducting Coils Based on <i>T–A</i> Formulation
title_sort simulation model for the transient characteristics of no insulation superconducting coils based on i t a i formulation
topic finite element method (FEM)
no-insulation (NI) coil
<i>T–A</i> formulation
transient analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/14/3669
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