An investigation of the current distribution in the triaxial cable and its operational impacts on a power system

An investigation of the current distribution in a three-phase triaxial superconducting cable is underway to study phase imbalances under steady-state operation and to assist in the construction of a transient model to study operational impacts of the cable in a power grid. The triaxial cable consists of three superconducting concentric phases inside a copper shield, with each phase composed of multiple layers of BSCCO tape wound helically in opposite directions. Current distribution among the phases of the cable is determined by using an electric circuit (EC) model containing the self and mutual inductances resulting from both axial and tangential fields. An ac loss term is also included in the model. Building on the EC model, a lumped cable model is used to investigate the effects of the triaxial cable on a power grid when faults are applied to the system. Cable lengths practical for future applications (∼10 km) are considered.