An Extended Thin Approximation Method to Simulate Screening Current Induced in REBCO Coils

Superconducting magnets wound with second-generation high-temperature superconductors, i.e., REBa₂Cu₃O_7-x (REBCO, RE = Rare Earth) tapes, are desired to apply high magnetic field nuclear magnetic resonance, MRI, and accelerators. However, a major problem for practical application is an undesirable irregular magnetic field caused by screening currents induced in REBCO tapes. To investigate the screening current-induced magnetic field, a few simulation methods have been proposed. One of the effective simulation methods employs a finite-element method with a thin approximation method. Although the thin approximation method was developed to simulate eddy currents in magnetic steel sheets, and it is not applicable to REBCO tapes carrying a transport current. Therefore, the thin approximation method is extended to simulate screening currents in REBCO tapes considering a carrying transport current. To show the validity of the proposed extended thin approximation method, the screening currents of an REBCO magnet are computed, and the results are compared with the measurement and simulation results of the conventional thin approximation method. The more accurate solution is available by using the proposed methods.