In this paper, we present the full derivation of a new formula for calculating the mutual inductance between inclined circular filaments arbitrarily positioned with respect to each other. Although such a formula was already proposed by Grover more than 50 years ago, the formula presented here is slightly more general and simpler to use, i.e., it involves only a sequential evaluation of expressions and the numerical resolution of a simple numerical integration. We derived the new formula using the method of vector potential, as opposed to Grover's approach, which was based on the Neumann formula. We validated the new formula through a series of examples, which are presented here. Finally, we present the relationship between the two general formulas (i.e., Grover's and our new one) explicitly (Example 12).

Numerical models for computing the effective critical current of devices made of high-temperature superconducting tapes require the knowledge of the J _c (B,θ) dependence, i.e., of the way the critical current density J _c depends on the magnetic flux density B and its orientation θ with respect to the tape. In this paper, we present a numerical model based on the critical state with angular field dependence of J _c to extract the J _c (B,θ) relation from experimental data. The model takes into account the self-field created by the tape, which gives an important contribution when the field applied in the experiments is low. The same model can be also used to compute the effective critical current of devices composed of electromagnetically interacting tapes. In this paper, we consider three examples: two differently current-rated Roebel cables composed of ten strands from REBCO coated conductors and a power cable prototype composed of 22 Bi-2223 tapes. The critical currents computed with the numerical model show good agreement with the measured ones. The simulations reveal also that several parameter sets in J _c (B,θ) give an equally good representation of the experimental characterization of the tapes and that the measured I _c values of cables are subjected to the influence of experimental conditions, such as I _c degradation due to the manufacturing and assembling process and nonuniformity of the tape properties. These two aspects make the determination of a very precise J _c (B,θ) expression probably unnecessary, as long as that expression is able to reproduce the main features of the observed angular dependence. The easiness of use of this model, which can be straightforwardly implemented in finite-element programs able to solve static electromagnetic problems, is very attractive both for researchers and device manufactures who want to characterize superconducting tapes and calculate the effective critical current of superconducting devices.

Several techniques to model high temperature superconductors (HTSs) are used throughout the world. At the same time, the use of superconductors in transportation and magnetic bearings promises an increase in energy efficiency. However, the most widespread simulation technique in the literature, the H-formulation, has not yet been used to simulate superconducting levitation. The goal of this work is to present solutions for the challenges concerning the use of the H-formulation to predict the behavior of superconducting levitators built either with YBCO bulks or stacks of 2G wires. It is worth mentioning the originality of replacing bulks with HTS stacks in this application. In our simulation methodology, the movement between the HTS and the permanent magnet was avoided by restricting the simulation domain to the HTS itself, which can be done by applying appropriate boundary conditions and analytical expressions for the source field. Commercial finite element software was used for the sake of ease of implementation. Simulation results were compared with experimental data, showing good agreement. We conclude that the H-formulation is suitable for problems involving moving objects and is a good alternative to other approaches for simulating superconducting magnetic bearings.

The electrodynamics of type-II superconductors is considered in the quasi-static limit when the concept of the so-called critical state is well applicable to the superconductors. We review analytical techniques and formulas used to describe the critical states in the superconductors of the various shapes characteristic of high-temperature superconducting materials. In particular, it is explained how 3-D critical-state problems for thin planar superconductors can be reduced to more simple 2-D problems. Within this approach, the critical states in a thin infinitely long superconducting strip are analytically described not only in the simplest case of a constant critical current density jc but also in the case of anisotropic flux-line pinning and for simple model dependence of jc on the magnetic-field magnitude. We also present the analytical solutions of the critical-state problem for superconducting strips with ferromagnetic substrates and for various arrays of superconducting strips with a transport current or in an external magnetic field. In particular, one of the discussed configurations of the strips can model superconducting power transmission cables. We also describe some analytical solutions of the electrodynamic equations for type-II superconductors with power-law voltage-current characteristics.