Advanced characterization and modeling tools to support the development of REBCO superconducting tapes

支持 REBCO 超导带开发的先进表征和建模工具

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-05395
• 负责人: Sirois, Frédéric
• 金额: $ 3.35万
• 依托单位: École Polytechnique de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=754033
• 关键词: Advanced; characterization; modeling; tools; support

Superconducting materials have the unique property of carrying lossless DC currents below a given critical current or critical temperature. Superconductors considered in this proposal are called "High Temperature Superconductors" (HTS), because they exhibit superconductivity above liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K or -196 Celsius), which is a relatively cheap and available coolant. HTS wires come in the form of flat tapes (HTS tapes) and can carry amazingly high current densities, e.g. more than 2 millions amps per square centimeter at 77 K. They are perfect for applications such as high power-density cables, motors/generators, and also for high-field electromagnets, used I particular in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. Commercial HTS tapes are now quite mature industrially and will soon be present in numerous commercial products. They could become a serious game changer in many known applications, but the performance and the economics of these applications strongly depend on their electrical properties, as well as on the homogeneity of these properties. The most important metric for HTS tapes is their critical current, i.e. the maximum current that they can carry without starting to heat. Critical current in commercial HTS tapes can vary by +/- 10-20% along their length. Hence, this inhomogeneous critical current distribution can lead to a hot spot regime that can destroy the device if the tape is not properly protected. Solutions exist, but a better understanding of the impact of critical current inhomogeneities is required to really bring HTS tapes at the desired level of robustness. In this research program, we will take advantage of Polytechnique's expertise in numerical simulation and advanced non-destructive characterization of HTS tapes under dangerous operating conditions, in order to acquire rich information about the homogeneity of their critical current distribution, among other things. This information will be used jointly with numerical simulations to better understand how the temperature profile develops over time, and if this can lead to a local degradation of HTS tapes. This will generate important new knowledge to determine exactly how we can further improve the quality and robustness of HTS tapes. To achieve this, some further side research will be necessary, in particular: 1) an improvement of the performances of existing simulation tools, 2) further research on fabrication processes to better control the metallic coatings on HTS tapes. The short-term objectives above are in line with the ultimate goal of this research program, namely "to allow the emergence of compact and efficient HTS devices for transportation and power systems, as well as enabling the advent of high-field magnets". Canada would benefit a lot from the deployment of the HTS tape technology. This is also a perfect opportunity to train highly qualified personnel in sciences and engineering in a highly inter-disciplinary environment.

超导材料具有在给定临界电流或临界温度以下的无损直流电流的独特特性。该提案中考虑的超导体称为“高温超导体”（HTS），因为它们在液氮温度（77 K或-196 Celsius）上表现出超导性，这是一种相对便宜且可用的冷却剂。 HTS电线的形式（HTS磁带）的形式出现，可以带有惊人的高电流密度，例如77 K处的每平方厘米超过200万厘米。它们非常适合诸如高功率密度电缆，电动机/发电机以及高场电磁体等应用，在磁共振成像（MRI）系统中使用。商业HTS磁带现在在工业上已经很成熟，很快就会出现在众多商业产品中。在许多已知的应用程序中，它们可能会成为严重的游戏规则改变者，但是这些应用的性能和经济性在很大程度上取决于它们的电气性能以及这些属性的同质性。 HTS磁带最重要的指标是它们的临界电流，即它们可以携带的最大电流而无需开始加热。商业HTS磁带中的临界电流沿其长度可能会变化+/- 10-20％。因此，这种不均匀的临界电流分布可能会导致热点状态，如果胶带不适当保护，可以破坏设备。存在解决方案，但是需要更好地理解临界当前不均匀性的影响才能真正将HTS磁带带到所需的鲁棒性水平。在该研究计划中，我们将利用Polytechnique在危险操作条件下对HTS磁带的数值模拟和高级非破坏性表征的专业知识，以获取有关其关键当前分布的同质性的丰富信息。该信息将与数值模拟共同使用，以更好地了解温度曲线如何随着时间的推移而发展，并且这是否会导致HTS磁带的局部退化。这将产生重要的新知识，以确定我们如何进一步提高HTS磁带的质量和鲁棒性。为了实现这一目标，特别是：1）改善现有模拟工具的性能，2）进一步研究制造过程，以更好地控制HTS磁带上的金属涂料。上面的短期目标符合该研究计划的最终目标，即“允许出现紧凑，有效的HTS设备用于运输和电源系统，并启用高场磁铁的出现”。加拿大将从HTS磁带技术的部署中受益匪浅。这也是在高度跨学科的环境中培训高素质的科学和工程人员的绝佳机会。