Study on Fault Current Limiting Characteristics of YBCO Thin-Film Superconducting Wire Wound on Different-Diameter Spiral Former

Windings are essential to the manufacture of a current limiting element using the YBCO thin film superconducting wire that has the form of a tape. Considering the results of the preceding study, the current limiting performance of the YBCO thin film superconducting wire seems to be influenced by the winding method and the radius of curvature of the wire. The radius of curvature of the YBCO thin film superconducting wire is an important factor of its current limiting performance and modularization. In this study, three YBCO thin film superconducting wires (two with copper and stainless steel stabilization layers, respectively, and one with no stabilization layer) with unique specific resistance characteristics were used to manufacture the current limiting element by winding them around spiral formers, which had a radius 25% greater than the minimum radius of curvature. The current limiting performances of such wires were examined according to the diameter of the spiral former at the 90, 180, and 250 K. To summarize the study results, the current limiting performance of the current limiting elements were influenced by the changes in the radius of curvature of the wires while fault currents were being applied.