Hybrid model of quench propagation in coated conductors for fault current limiters

International audienceWe developed a hybrid model of the quench propagation in coated conductors in the current limitation condition. This model combines the finite element method, to study the thermal behaviour of the coated conductors, and analytical calculation of the heat dissipation. We demonstrate that the evaluation of the heat dissipation can be conducted on a larger mesh than the FEM thermal problem. The results obtained with this model are in very good agreement with experiments, without the need of using free parameters for adjustment. Parametric studies are then conducted to evaluate the influence of both the substrate thickness and the layer interface thermal properties on the transition propagation behaviour. 3D simulations of a thin superconducting line placed on a wider substrate are also presented. Significant transverse heat propagation is observed in spite of the low thermal conductivity of the substrate, though this has little to no influence on the transition propagation along the line. These results are discussed in the context of FCL design