Interaction between a superconducting coil and the power electronics interface on a 100 MJ SMES system

Although numerous studies have focused on the connection of SMES to the utility power grid, fewer have addressed in detail the interactions between the power electronics interface and the SMES coil. While electromagnetic transient models are available from classical transformer studies, little work has been done on how these models apply to SMES coils. This paper presents the computer modeling of the interaction between a 100 MJ/100 MW LTS SMES coil now under construction and its power electronics interface. It is concluded that frequency domain modeling methods are applicable to study SMES coil-converter interactions and to recommend preferred operating frequencies of the power converter provided that certain characteristics unique to SMES systems are accounted for.