Three dimensional stability analysis of high-temperature superconductors using the finite element method

As the properties of high-temperature superconducting tapes improve, practi cal design considerations require more detailed analysis to prevent quenchi ng. An important issue for high-temperature superconductors is stability: i .e. the ability to maintain or recover superconductivity in the event of a thermal disturbance or flux jump. As a result of the broad range of tempera ture during a transition and the strong temperature dependence and anisotro py of the material properties, the finite element method (FEM) is used to s olve the three-dimensional heat conduction equation. The minimum quench ene rgy for several sources is determined. The different cases considered inclu de: convective boundary condition, source in BSCCO or Ag, increased anisotr opy of thermal conductivity of BSCCO, increased critical current density an d a constant source in Ag.