Analysis on Mechanical and Thermal Behaviors of NI REBCO Racetrack Coil With Thermal Plate

This article presents both analytical and numerical studies on non-insulated racetrack coils made with REBCO (Rare-Earth Barium Copper Oxide) superconducting wires, reinforced by a copper thermal plate. Racetrack coils in superconducting rotating machines often require different design and analysis considerations compared to solenoid-type coils, as they are typically designed for highly constrained spaces, with limited cooling capacity, and have different geometric shapes and operating environments. Therefore, these unique characteristics must be carefully accounted for during the design and analysis process. In this study, we report on the mechanical and thermal analysis of the field winding design for a 5 MW, 3000 rpm-class superconducting motor, conducted as part of the Cryogen-free ultra-high field superconducting electric (CRUISE) motor project at Hinetics. Key challenges associated with racetrack coils in superconducting motors are introduced, and the design approaches and analysis methods used to address each challenge are described in detail.