Affiliations: [a] CRIS – Consorzio Ricerche, Innovative per il Sud, Via
Nuova delle Brecce 260, I-80147, Napoli, Italy | [b] DAEIMI – Dipartimento di Automazione, Università
di Cassino, Via G. Di Biasio 43, I-03043 Cassino FR, Italy | [c] Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, Seconda
Università di Napoli, Via Roma 29, I-81031, Aversa CE, Italy
Abstract: Air-core superconducting transformers incorporate the function of
shunt reactors, thus they can be used in high-voltage high-capacity
applications. They result lighter than their traditional counterpart while
requiring heavy metallic shields. However they may represent an effective
alternative to traditional transformers only if the weight and clearance
reduction is accompanied by acceptable values of magnetizing current and
leakage fluxes. The reduction of the leakage fluxes allows the reduction of the
metallic shield size leading to an enhancement of the weight advantage. In
addition the value of the mutual inductance should fit the shunt reactor action
requirement. These objectives can be achieved by the active shielding
technique. The paper proposes to properly design both the transformer and its
active shield by means of a combined optimization stochastic algorithm. The
procedure outlined is applied to a three-phase transformer layout.
