Transport AC Loss Measurements and Simulations in Bi-2223/Ag Tape with Ni Cover at the Edges

Measurements on Bi-2223 multifilamentary tapes covered on edges by nickel showed a substantial AC loss reduction (Gömöry et al. in Supercond. Sci. Technol. 22: 034017, 2009) and increasing critical current of the tape. Here we present a systematic study of this effect involving numerical simulations. The samples were prepared by deposition of Ni layer on commercial Bi-2223 tape. After measuring the critical current and the transport AC loss, cross-section photos are taken and the properties of nickel cover determined to be used in the calculations. We observed that with increasing Ni thickness the transport AC loss of the wire is decreasing in the high current region. In low current region because of the magnetic hysteresis in the Ni cover the transport AC loss of the Ni covered tapes are larger. Our calculations according to the method which is detailed in Gömöry et al. (Supercond. Sci. Technol. 22:034017, 2009) show good agreement with measurements.