Evaluation of the magnetic field – high temperature superconductor interactions

To describe the wide range of possible applications of high temperature superconductors (HTSCs) (e.g. magnetic bearings, levitation systems or electrical machines) several appropriate calculation algorithms have been developed. They determine the force interaction between a superconductor and any even multidimensional magnetic field excitation system. Especially good agreements between experiments and computed results have been obtained for the Vector‐Controlled Model, which seems to be the best approximation of the macroscopic superconductivity behaviour. The validation of this model by means of measurements makes it a powerful tool for the design and optimisation of any HTSC application in the field of force generation. It can be used not only for the designing of levitation applications, but also to help the understanding of the flux penetration, flux trapping and magnetisation of bulk superconductors in non‐uniform magnetic fields. By means of this model, the force interaction between superconductors and external magnetic fields for practical multi‐polar configurations, e.g. superconducting levitation systems or inherently stable superconducting bearings has been determined. Furthermore, the time dependency of the forces taking flux flow and flux creep into account, can be considered.