Optimal Design and Thermal Analysis of Current Leads in Superconducting Energy Pipeline

Abstract

Superconducting energy pipeline is a novel type of cotransmission system of electric power and fuel. As an indispensable part of the energy pipeline, the heat leakage and thermal performance of current leads are critical for the efficiency and safety of the system. In this article, a design method of current leads with given heat flux was proposed and used, which provides a new idea of lead optimization. Based on the working principles and design parameters of the terminal, the lead was optimized in a structure consisting of three different leads instead of a uniform one by the finite element model. Considering thermal and mechanical properties, the lead materials were compared and determined. Underrated current, steady-state overcurrent and fault conditions, the heat leakage, temperature distribution, and dynamic process were calculated and analyzed, which offers a reference for the lead performance evaluation and design parameter correction. The designed lead can meet the requirements for the energy pipeline, and it verifies that the lead of multisection structure can realize the balance between the minimum heat leakage and different operation requirements under complex terminal structure.