Quench developing process of HTS tape in sinusoidal overcurrents with different amplitudes Original Research Article

Superconducting equipments applied in electric power system might suffer overcurrents during the dynamic state of power system, such as short circuit faults. In those cases, superconducting equipments might transit from superconducting state to normal state, which is called quench, and then brings a series of problems to the supply of electric power. Thus, detecting quench timely and protecting superconducting equipments from overcurrents become an important subject. Our lab has carried out a lot of experiments to study the quench characteristics for the HTS tape in sinusoidal overcurrents with different amplitudes. By the analysis of these experimental data, this paper presents the quench developing process of HTS tape in different currents and puts out a three-stage theory for it. Based on that, the prediction theory for quench detection and protection is put forward.