Through-Wall Charging Experiment and Particle Swarm Optimization Design of Self-Regulating High Temperature Superconducting Flux Pump
Zhai Yao1,2, Ma Guangtong1,2, Liu Lihao2, Gong Tianyong1, Zhou Pengbo2
1. School of Electrical Engineering Southwest Jiaotong University Chengdu 610031 China; 2. State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System Southwest Jiaotong University Chengdu 610031 China
Abstract：Ideally, the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet should operate in a closed-loop constant current mode, generating a stable, strong magnetic field for safe and reliable operation. However, the intrinsic properties of HTS materials, coupled with the “dynamic resistance” within the closed circuit, pose challenges in maintaining a consistent current within the superconducting loop. The introduction of external power leads in a room temperature for exciting the magnet in a low-temperature environment results in significant Joule heating, which can compromise the thermal stability and reliability of HTS magnets. Various non-contact excitation technologies have been proposed in recent years. Among these, the self-regulating flux pump, characterized by its simple structure, can promptly compensate for the magnet current and preserve the sealing of a low-temperature environment. This paper presents the design and construction of a through-wall excitation system for HTS magnets, integrating magnetic couplers with a bifilar non-inductive bridge. The system relocates metallic materials outside the vessel, with only superconducting components housed within. Additionally, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to refine the system's critical structural parameters, enhancing the charging performance. Firstly, the primary design considerations were elucidated based on the equivalent circuit of a self-regulating HTS flux pump. A racetrack HTS coil was selected as the charging target, and the linear correlation between the load current and the central magnetic field was calibrated using a Gaussian meter. Secondly, the hollow magnetic couplers' structure was designed through finite element method (FEM). Combined with a bifilar bridge coil, an excitation platform across the metal low-temperature vessel was constructed to realize energy through-wall transfer. Experimental results highlighted the limiting effect of the power supply on charging performance. Then, the circuit model developed in Simulink was improved by importing data from the closed-loop current decay curve and the measured V-I curve over an extensive current-carrying range. Finally, the PSO algorithms, programmed in Matlab and integrated with the circuit model, optimized the system's key parameters iteratively. The results indicate that the through-wall excitation system can improve performance by selecting optimal parameters. This enhancement is achieved without supplementary ferromagnetic materials, and it can elevate the saturated load current to approximately four times the existing measurements without power limitations. The following conclusions can be drawn. (1) The developed through-wall excitation system can transfer energy across a metallic vessel with a thickness of approximately 1.5 cm without introducing extra ferromagnetic materials, eliminating the adverse effect of current leads. Circuit analysis explains the limiting impact of supply voltage on output current during high-frequency operation, revealing the underlying cause that restricts further enhancement of the charging current. (2) The measured V-I curve of the coated conductor can be imported into the circuit model to improve the prediction accuracy. Combined with the intelligent optimization algorithm, the global optimal solution of the system's key parameters can be acquired through iterative calculation. Furthermore, the optimized characteristic parameters at various application frequencies verify again the pronounced correlation between the optimal configuration and the operating frequency.
翟耀, 马光同, 刘力豪, 龚天勇, 周鹏博. 自驱式高温超导磁通泵的跨壁励磁实验与粒子群优化研究[J]. 电工技术学报, 2025, 40(18): 5759-5775.
Zhai Yao, Ma Guangtong, Liu Lihao, Gong Tianyong, Zhou Pengbo. Through-Wall Charging Experiment and Particle Swarm Optimization Design of Self-Regulating High Temperature Superconducting Flux Pump. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2025, 40(18): 5759-5775.
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2025, Vol. 40 
