Numerical Study on Dynamic Resistance of an HTS Switch Made of Series-Connected YBCO Stacks

When a superconductor is exposed to an AC magnetic field whilst carrying a constant DC transport current, a DC electrical resistance can be observed, commonly referred to as “dynamic resistance”. This dissipative effect can play a critical role in many potential high-temperature superconducting (HTS) applications, especially for the AC-field-actuated HTS switch, which is the key component in the HTS transformer-rectifier flux pump (TRFP). The characteristics of the HTS switch determine the performance and reliability of TRFP. In this paper, we report a numerical study of a new HTS switch design made of series-connected YBCO stacks. This study aims to obtain insights into the characteristics of dynamic resistance and power loss, including their relationships with the amplitude and the frequency of the AC magnetic field. The energy conversion efficiency of the HTS switch is also investigated. This work will help design a high-performance AC-field-actuated HTS switch.