Magnetisation loss of BSCCO/Ag superconducting tape exposed to applied field with arbitrary angle

Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox/Ag tape superconductors are used in applications like power cables and transformers. In these applications the superconductor is exposed to an alternating magnetic field that has different orientations with respect to the tape surface. In this paper the angle dependency of the magnetisation loss is considered from two points of view. First the measurement technique with pickup coils is analysed theoretically. Measured magnetisation loss in uni-directional magnetic field with various orientations and rotating magnetic field are compared. When the orientation is changed from perpendicular (0degrees) to parallel (90degrees) applied magnetic fields, the contribution of the perpendicular field component to the magnetisation loss is dominant up to 60degrees. A new model to describe the angle dependency of the magnetisation loss, based on the measured loss in perpendicular and parallel magnetic field is developed. Deviations between models and the measured loss are explained with the help of the theoretical analysis of the measurement technique. The new model is not only applicable for the magnetisation loss but also for other AC loss components. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.