Finite Element Analysis of Thermal and Electromagnetic Relaxation Processes in a YBCO Superconducting Pellet. Trapped Fields and Currents Distributions Differences

The adequate characterization of the magnetization behavior of high-temperature superconductors is essential to improve the performance of superconducting devices such as motors and electrical generators. Currently, commercial finite element programs allow to analyze the response of YBCO superconducting materials, the currents induced, temperature variations, and even the mechanical stress during the magnetization process. Using a commercial finite element program, we analyze the response to a ZFC magnetization process of a YBCO pellet, which forms part of the superconducting rotor of an HTS electric motor by using pulsed magnetizing field. In this work, we report on the distribution of trapped field, critical currents, and thermal evolution in a 2D axisymmetric configuration.