Insulation materials and systems for superconducting powertrain devices in future cryo-electrified aircraft : part I-material challenges and specifications, and device-level application

This article introduces the potential use of superconductivity in cryo-electrified aircraft as the aviation industry and governments move toward zero-emissions environmental targets. It outlines the different electrical insulating materials and discusses potential advantages and disadvantages for cryogenic superconducting applications

Advanced experimental-based data-driven model for the electromechanical behavior of twisted YBCO tapes considering thermomagnetic constraints

Data-driven models can predict, estimate, and monitor any highly nonlinear and multi-variable behaviour of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials, and superconducting devices to analyse their characteristics with a very high accuracy in an almost real-time procedure, which is a significant figure of merit as compared with traditional numerical approaches. The electromechanical behaviour of twisted HTS tapes under different strains, magnetic fields, and temperatures is a complicated problem to be solved using conventional approaches, including finite element-based methods, otherwise, experimental testing is needed to characterise it. This paper aims to offer a data-driven model based on artificial intelligence techniques to predict the electromechanical behaviour of HTS tapes operating under various thermomagnetic conditions. By using the proposed model, normalised critical current value and stress of twisted tapes can be predicted under different temperatures and magnetic flux densities. For this purpose, experimental data were used as inputs to design an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). To achieve the best performance of the prediction system, multiple clustering methods were used, such as the grid partitioning method, fuzzy c-means clustering method, and sub-clustering method. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to find the best architecture of ANFIS to predict and model electromechanical behaviour of twisted tapes with high accuracy

High temperature superconducting cables and their performance against short circuit faults: current development, challenges, solutions, and future trends

Along with advancements in superconducting technology, especially in high temperature superconductors (HTS), the use of these materials in power system applications is gaining outstanding attention. Due to the lower weight, higher current carrying capability, and the lower loss of HTS cables compared to conventional counterparts, they are among the most focused applications of superconductors in power systems. In near future, these cables will be installed as key elements not only in power systems but also in cryo-electrified transportation units, which take advantage of both cryogenics and superconducting technology simultaneously, e.g. hydrogen-powered aircraft. Given the sensitivity of the reliable and continuous performance of HTS cables, any failures, caused by faults, could be catastrophic, if they are not designed appropriately. Thus, fault analysis of superconducting cables is crucial for ensuring their safety, reliability, and stability, and also for characterising the behaviour of HTS cables under fault currents at the design stage. Many investigations were conducted on the fault characterisation and analysis of HTS cables in the last few years. This paper aims to provide a topical review on all of these conducted studies, It will discuss the current challenges of HTS cables and after that current developments of fault behaviour of HTS cables would be presented, and then we will discuss the future trends and future challenges of superconducting cables regarding their fault performance