Investigation into accuracy of turn-to-turn contact resistance measurement in low-frequency AC method by 3D numerical simulation

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss two points: (a) the accuracy of contact resistance measurement using the low-frequency AC (LFAC) method and (b) the relation between the contact resistance and the contact resistivity. The LFAC method is used to measure the turn-to-turn contact resistance of a no-insulation (NI) rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) pancake coil. We have previously shown the validity of the LFAC method by experiment. In this paper, the current distribution of aNI REBCO pancake coil on the applyication of the LFAC method is investigated using numerical simulation. The simulation results show the possibility of improving the measurement accuracy. Hence, a correction method is also proposed using the phase difference of the coil voltage and current. The LFAC simulation results also indicate the inconsistency of the well-known relation between contact resistance and contact resistivity. Therefore, we investigated the relation through the LFAC and sudden-discharging test simulations.