A Coupling Simulation and Modeling Method for High Temperature Superconducting Magnets

Under transient operating conditions, especially in the case of alternating current or pulse current, the high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet will suffer ac losses leading to changes in the temperature and critical current distribution throughout the magnet. A magneto-thermal model is needed to simulate this process. In fact, the state change of the magnet will lead to a nonlinear performance of the HTS magnet in the power system. This paper introduces a coupling simulation and modeling method for the HTS magnet based on a cosimulation model built in MATLAB and COMSOL. The HTS magnet element is a customized module created via the self-code S-Function in MATLAB. A magneto-thermal finite element model based on the PDE and Heat Transfer modules of COMSOL is built into the S-Function. This model allows the state of the HTS magnet to be monitored during the operating process. A small-scale HTS magnet including three single pancake coils with a dc excitation system is illustrated to verify the nonlinear characteristic of the HTS magnet and the effectiveness of this coupling simulation and modeling method.