A study of thermal bubble behavior in the simulated electrode system of HT superconducting coils

Bubble behavior is studied theoretically and experimentally with an electrode system which consists of concentric coil layer-to-cylindrical electrodes with insulation barrier and spacers immersed in liquid nitrogen for the simulation of the insulation environment in high temperature superconducting coils at the quenching state. The results show that bubble behavior is affected severely by 60 Hz electric field and pressure; it is categorized into two types according to the width l/sub c/ of the cooling channel between coil layer and cylindrical electrode. When l/sub c/ is larger than the diameter of bubble released from the coil electrode, bubbles rise by buoyancy at a low applied voltage, but they are trapped in grooves between coil-turns at higher applied voltages. Trapped bubbles move along the groove if there is no obstruction, but otherwise move out of the groove. When l/sub c/ is smaller than the bubble diameter, the bubbles are trapped in the groove due to surface tension, and now along the groove even at no applied voltage. At higher applied voltages, the bubbles are trapped tightly and an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) instability is excited on the bubble surface if the spacer exists. Bubbles stream from the groove due to the effects of EHD instability and buoyancy.