Open Source Codes for Computing the Critical Current of Superconducting Devices

摘要

In order to transport sufficiently high current, high-temperaturesuperconductor (HTS) tapes are assembled in cable structures of differentforms. In such cables, the tapes are tightly packed and have a strongelectromagnetic interaction. In particular, the generated self-field is quitesubstantial and can give an important contribution in reducing the maximumcurrent the cable can effectively carry. In order to be able to predict thecritical current of said cable structures, a static numerical model has beenrecently proposed. In this contribution, we present in detail theimplementation of such models in different programming environments, includingfinite-element-based and general numerical analysis programs, both commercialan open-source. A comparison of the accuracy and calculation speed of thedifferent implementations of the model is carried out for the case of a Roebelcable. The model is also used to evaluate the importance of choosing a veryaccurate description of the angular Jc(B) dependence of the superconductor asinput for the material's property. The numerical codes, which are open-source,are made freely available to interested users.