FEM analysis of current limiting characteristics of a superconducting thin film current limiting device by the current vector potential method

Numerical analysis of a resistive superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) using superconducting thin film has been performed. The finite element method (FEM) based on the current vector potential with the thin plate approximation was used to study current limiting characteristics and current imbalance phenomenon of a single SFCL device. Transport current and temperature dependence were also taken into account by solving a three-dimensional coupled problem of electromagnetic field, an electric circuit and thermal field. An E-J relation based on the power law was adopted for modeling the electromagnetic property of superconductor. This analysis method enables us to calculate not only current limiting characteristics but also current density, flux density, and heat generation at any point in the superconducting thin film at any time.