Proposal of a novel design for linear superconducting motor using 2G tape stacks

This paper presents a new design for a su- perconducting linear motor (SLM). This SLM uses stacks of second-generation (2G) superconducting tapes, which are responsible for replacing yttrium barium copper oxide bulks. The proposed SLM may operate as a synchronous motor or as a hysteresis motor, depending on the load force magnitude. A small-scale linear machine prototype with 2G stacks was constructed and tested to investigate the proposed SLM topology. The stator traveling magnetic field wave was represented by several Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets. A relative movement was produced between the stator and the stack, and the force was measured along the displacement. This system was also simulated by the finite element method, in order to calculate the induced currents in the stack and determine the electromagnetic force. The H-formulation was used to solve the problem, and a power law relation was applied to take into account the intrin- sically nonlinearity of the superconductor. The simulated and measured results were in accordance. Simulated re- sults were extrapolated, proving to be an interesting tool to scale up the motor in future projects. The proposed motor presented an estimated force density of almost 500 N/kg, which is much higher than any linear motor.This work was supported in part by the following agencies: CNPq/CAPES/INERGE, CNPq—Ci ˆ encias sem Fronteiras, FAPERJ, Catalan Government 2014- SGR-753, CONSOLIDER Excellence Network MAT2014-56063-C2-1-R and MAT2015-68994-REDC, Eurofusion EU COST ACTIONS MP1201/ MP1014/PPPT-WPMAG 2014, EUROTAPES FP7-NMP-Large-2011- 280432, FORTISSIMO FP7-2013-ICT-609029, and Spanish Govern- ment Agencies—Severo Ochoa Programme Centres of Excellence in R&D. (Corresponding author: Guilherme G. Sotelo.

Extinction calculations of multi-sphere polycrystalline graphitic clusters - A comparison with the 2175 AA peak and between a rigorous solution and discrete-dipole approximations

Certain dust particles in space are expected to appear as clusters of individual grains. The morphology of these clusters could be fractal or compact. In this paper we study the light scattering by compact and fractal polycrystalline graphitic clusters consisting of touching identical spheres. We compare three general methods for computing the extinction of the clusters in the wavelength range 0.1 - 100 micron, namely, a rigorous solution (Gerardy & Ausloos 1982) and two different discrete-dipole approximation methods -- MarCODES (Markel 1998) and DDSCAT (Draine & Flatau 1994). We consider clusters of N = 4, 7, 8, 27,32, 49, 108 and 343 particles of radii either 10 nm or 50 nm, arranged in three different geometries: open fractal (dimension D = 1.77), simple cubic and face-centred cubic. The rigorous solution shows that the extinction of the fractal clusters, with N < 50 and particle radii 10 nm, displays a peak within 2% of the location of the observed interstellar extinction peak at ~4.6 inverse micron; the smaller the cluster, the closer its peak gets to this value. By contrast, the peak in the extinction of the more compact clusters lie more than 4% from 4.6 inverse micron. At short wavelengths (0.1 - 0.5 micron), all the methods show that fractal clusters have markedly different extinction from those of non-fractal clusters. At wavelengths > 5 micron, the rigorous solution indicates that the extinction from fractal and compact clusters are of the same order of magnitude. It was only possible to compute fully converged results of the rigorous solution for the smaller clusters, due to computational limitations, however, we find that both discrete-dipole approximation methods overestimate the computed extinction of the smaller fractal clusters.Comment: Corrections added in accordance with suggestions by the referee. 12 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

H-Formulation FEM Modeling of the Current Distribution in 2G HTS Tapes and Its Experimental Validation Using Hall Probe Mapping

One of the most widespread mathematical formulations applied to simulate the electromagnetic phenomena of coated conductor in the recent literature is the H one. However, the only validation of the model has been indirect by using measurements taken from the applications, as measurements of the energy losses in ac fields, forces developed in levitation systems or any other parameter related to a specific application. Direct validation of the calculation requires the observation of the local out of plane magnetic field over the surface of the sample and this is only accessible under magneto-optical observations and, in a larger scale and better dynamic range, by the Hall scanning microscopy. We propose here the experimental validation of the H-formulation by comparing the simulated results with measurements made by a Hall probe mapping in a second generation (2G) tape sample for several DC transported currents at 77 K. The paper presents a methodology to simulate the 2G tape by using only measured data obtained from a sample and its normalized J(B) experimental curves. Some boundary conditions that allow a faster convergence of the problem are investigated. Simulated results of the 2G tape modelled considering only the 1 μm HTS layer were compared with other that represent the most important layers of the coated conductor structure in the calculations. The simulated and measured results present a good agreement, proving that this model can calculate precisely the magnetic field and, hence, the current distribution in HTS samples.This work was supported in part by the followings grants: “Science Without Borders” from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq); by the European Agency (EU) through the Factories of the Future Resources, Technology, Infrastructure and Services for Simulation and Modelling (FORTISSIMO) Project under Grant EU FP7-2013-ICT-609029, the European Development of Superconducting Tapes (EUROTAPES) Project under Grant EU-FP7 NMP-LA-2012- 280432, the European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy (EUROfusion, PPPT-WPMAG 2014), and EU COST ACTIONS MP1201 and MP1014; by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D under Grant SEV-2015-0496, CONSOLIDER Excellence Network under Grant MAT2015- 68994-REDC, COACHSUPENERGY project under Grant MAT2014-56063- C2-1-R, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund; by the Catalan Government under Grant 2014-SGR-753 and Xarmae

Convolutional Goppa Codes

We define Convolutional Goppa Codes over algebraic curves and construct their corresponding dual codes. Examples over the projective line and over elliptic curves are described, obtaining in particular some Maximum-Distance Separable (MDS) convolutional codes.Comment: 8 pages, submitted to IEEE Trans. Inform. Theor

Fundamentals, topologies and optimization methods of saturated iron core fault current limiter

The energy transition is a necessity to satisfy the consumption and impact of humanity on the environment. Therefore, to fulfill this demand, renewable energies and microgrids have been developed. Consequently, fault current levels have overcome the circuit breaker capacity in many substations over the years. Then, the development of the fault current limiters has become a potential solution to solve this problem. The literature has presented several topologies over the past decades. The saturated iron-core fault current limiter (SIC-SFCL) has exhibited promising results since this topology is tested in the distribution and transmission system substation. Thus, enforcements to increase the maturity of this equipment have been developed in different areas, for example, design, applied superconductor materials, and optimization models of the SIC-SFCL. This article has presented the fundamental concept of this equipment. Beyond that, the principal topologies have been discussed. The article has delivered further information about the main parts that comprise this equipment. Also, the authors have introduced different characteristics which affect the recovery times of this device. The authors have discussed the optimization methods applied to this equipment and after the conclusion is presented

Optimization of the Superconducting Linear Magnetic Bearing of a Maglev Vehicle

Considering the need for cost/performance prediction and optimization of superconducting maglev vehicles, we develop and validate here a 3D finite element model to simulate superconducting linear magnetic bearings. Then we reduce the 3D model to a 2D model in order to decrease the computing time. This allows us to perform in a reasonable time a stochastic optimization considering the superconductor properties and the vehicle operation. We look for the permanent magnet guideway geometry that minimizes the cost and maximizes the lateral force during a displacement sequence, with a constraint on the minimum levitation force. The displacement sequence reproduces a regular maglev vehicle operation with both vertical and lateral movements. For the sake of comparison, our reference is the SupraTrans prototype bearing. The results of the optimization suggest that the bearing cost could be substantially reduced, while keeping the same performances as the initial design. Alternatively, the performances could be significantly improved for the same original cost