Performance limits in REBCO tape for variation in winding parameters of CORC® cable and wire

Abstract

The design and testing of high current superconducting cables made of ReBa2Cu3O7-z (REBCO) are still under development. It seems to have huge potential to overcome some of the difficulties associated Low Temperature Superconductors. One of the attractive features of CORC® cable compared to other cable types is that a former with a small diameter can be used. This allows a flexible and round wire shape of the cable showing symmetry in the radial direction. This paper aims at analyzing limitations of a simple superconducting CORC® cable design by varying parameters such as substrate thickness, copper stabilizer layer thickness, winding angle, and central former diameter. The CORC® cable modeling is started from the design to the production stage of the tape, then the winding of the tape over the central former is performed at room temperature. The winding is critical as in the process, compressive strain is induced in the tape. This paper also investigates the influence of different parameters on the performance and possible performance degradation of superconducting CORC® wire and cable. The result showed that Hastelloy thickness decreases from 0.05 to 0.02 mm, at 1 mm core diameter, the variation of maximum strain is 47 % and 52%, at 0.01 and 0.02 copper thickness respectively. The compressive strain is increased by 43 % when the core diameter decreases from 3 to 1 mm, at 0.02 mm Hastelloy thickness. Similarly, at 0.01 mm copper thickness, and 0.05 mm Hastelloy thickness, 50% increase of compressive strain is noted when the core diameter decreases from 3 to 1 mm.