OSCaR: A Cost Analysis of HTS Coaxial Cables With a Novel Optimization Method

The techno-economic convenience of installing a High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cable rather than a conventional one depends on the type of line and the operating conditions selected. However, the comparisons available in the literature refer to specific case studies and the few cost analyses performed account for a limited number of cable and line parameters. This work presents the costs of a HTS cable system, obtained through a model called OSCaR (Optimization tool for Superconducting Cable Research). The study is focused on the so-called coaxial configuration of AC cables. The optimization tool determines the design of a superconducting cable which minimizes the total cost of the system by varying the voltage, the power and the length of the line. Several geometrical, electrical and fluid-dynamic constraints are imposed. OSCaR allows distinguishing between the different cost indexes and relating them to the individual cable parameters, thus providing useful information on the application limits of the superconducting technology and to guide a cost-effective design. This paper investigates the novel results of parametric analyses obtained with OSCaR, by varying the cable length, the line voltage, the load factor and the cost per unit of length of the superconducting tape. Furthermore, relevant conclusions are reported regarding the minimum distance between adjacent cooling stations to comply with the fluid-dynamic constraints.