Evaluation of AC loss and temperature distribution in high temperature superconducting tape using COMSOL Multiphysics

High temperature superconductors (HTS) are promising candidates for electrical power applications. The electrical devices using HTS conductors or tapes with high critical temperature (Tc) and high current carrying capability operate with more efficiency and higher power density compared to the conventional one. But the superconductor exhibits energy loss known as AC loss when exposed to time varying external magnetic field and/or transport current. This may lead to increase of temperature inside the superconductor, which may be followed by thermal run away. Therefore the study of AC loss and temperature distribution is important. In this paper, AC loss in an elliptical Ag sheathed Bi2223 (HTS) tape is calculated using the time dependent PDE mode of COMSOL Multiphysics. The HTS tape is subjected to the externally applied time varying magnetic field and transport current. After proper mesh generation in the superconductor and silver subdomains, the time dependent solver is used to get the solution of the primary variable in COMSOL Multiphysics. The effect of amplitude of applied AC fields and transport currents are observed using the post-processing unit of COMSOL Multiphysics. Using the calculated AC losses as the heat sources in physics settings, the temperature distribution inside the superconducting tape is evaluated. This is done with the help of the heat transfer module of COMSOL Multiphysics. Proper thermal boundary conditions and anisotropic thermal conductivity of the HTS tape are applied in boundary and sub-domain settings respectively. Lastly, the temperature rise at a certain spot inside the Bi2223/Ag tape is investigated to observe the evolution of temperature rise.