Research topic: Superconductors

YBCO Superconducting Blocks Inserted in Electromechanical Systems

P.I.: Prof. Paulo José da Costa Branco

Funded by FCT: PTDC / EEI-EEL / 4693/2014. From April 22, 2016 to April 21, 2019. Funding of € 112,072.00.

Objectives:

This research project focused on the modelling and application of HTS bulk in electromechanical systems. The main task performed were:

1) Formulation of a distributed parameter model of YBCO  for simulation of electromagnetic and thermal properties. 

2) Study of the in-loco pulsed magnetization process of the YBCO superconductor cooled to 77K: the number of pulses required for the magnetization of the material;

3) Selection of optimized magnetic circuit topology for a low-speed generator; 

4) Development and testing of a prototype of the low-speed generator. 

Developed works:

In-loco HTS magnetization process

Zero-Field-Cooled Superconducting Levitation Bearing

HTS Electromagnetic and Thermal Modelling

Magnetization

Study of the pulsed magnetization process of the YBCO superconductor cooled to 77K. The following aspects are considered: the number of pulses required for the magnetization of the material; and the ability to maintain the magnetization level of the YBCO when subject to time-varying external fields.

ZFC bearing prototype made of a rotor with permanent magnet rings and a stator to house the YBCO HTS bulks.

– Experimental tests, Cooled with liquid nitrogen, 3D electromagnetic and thermal modelling.

main_foto

3D Equivalent Space-Varying Permeability Model of HTS Bulks for Computation of Electromagnetic Forces (2021)Formulation of a lumped parameter equivalent model of the HTS bulks, for fast simulation. A new magnetic permeability model was developed and validated, to estimate the level of magnetization of the HTS bulks in levitation systems.

List of publications related to this project

  • A. J. C. Arsénio and P. J. C. Branco, “Thermo-Hydraulic Analysis of a Horizontal HTS ZFC Levitating Bearing Concerning Its Autonomy Safety Service Time,” in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 1-10, Aug. 2021.
  • ISP Peixoto, FF da Silva, JFP Fernandes, PJ da Costa Branco, “3D Equivalent Space-Varying Permeability Model of HTS Bulks for Computation of Electromagnetic Forces”, in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 31, no. 5, Aug. 2021. 10.1109/TASC.2021.3057570
  • J. Arnaud, J. Fernandes and P. J. C. Branco, “Use of Bulk Superconductors in the Excitation System of Low-Speed Synchronous Generators,” in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, doi: 10.1109/TASC.2021.3054721, 2021.
  • J. Fernandes, A. J. Arsenio and J. Arnaud, “Optimization of a Horizontal Axis HTS ZFC Levitation Bearing using Genetic Decision Algorithms over Finite Element Results,” in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 1-8, 2020.
  • J. F. P. Fernandes Comparison of fast computing methods for ZFC high-temperature superconductors bulks, Supercond. Sci. Technol., vol. 33, no.8, June, 2020.
  • F Ferreira da Silva and P J Costa Branco, “Study of a cylindrical geometry design for a zero field cooled Maglev system”, Superconductor Science and Technology, Volume 32, Number 6, 065004, 2019.
  • A. J. Arsénio, M. L. Roque, M. V. Carvalho, C. Cardeira, R. Melicio and P. J. Costa Branco, “Implementation of a YBCO Superconducting ZFC-Magnetic Bearing Prototype,” in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 327-335, Jan.-Feb. 2019
  • J. Arnaud, J. F. P. Fernandes and P. J. C. Branco, “Modifying the Pulsed-Field-Magnetization Technique for HTS Bulks in Electrical Machines Without Magnetic Field Sensors,” in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 1-4, June 2018.
  • dos Santos Costa, A.J.A., Valério, D. and da Costa Branco, P.J. (2018), Predictive control model to manage power flow on a hybrid wind-photovoltaic and diesel microgeneration power plant with additional storage capacity. IET Cyber-Physical Systems: Theory & Applications, 3: 206-211, 2018.
  • A. J. Arsénio, M. Roque, C. Cardeira, P. J. C. Branco and R. Melicio, “Prototype of a Zero-Field-Cooled YBCO Bearing With Continuous Ring Permanent Magnets,” in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 1-7, June 2018.
  • A. J. Arsénio, R. Melício, C. Cardeira and P. J. da Costa Branco, “The Critic Liquid–Gas Phase Transition Between Liquid Nitrogen and YBCO HTS Bulks: From FEM Modeling to its Experimental Study for ZFC Levitation Devices,” in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 1-8, June 2018.
  • A. J. Arsenio, M. V. V. Carvalho, C. Cardeira, R. Melicio, and P. J. Costa Branco, “Experimental set-up and efficiency evaluation of zero-field-cooled (ZFC) YBCO magnetic bearings,” IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. PP, no. 99, p. 1., 2017.
  • J. Fernandes, I. Montes, R. Sousa, C. Cardeira, and P. J. Costa Branco, “Superconductor Joule Losses in the Zero-Field-Cooled Maglev Vehicle,” IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 26, no. 3, Apr., 2016