The paper presents an analytical method for calculation of critical
energies of uncooled composite superconductors based on the hyperbolic
equation of heat conduction. The mathematical model developed takes into
account: the finite speed of heat transport, the temperature dependence
of the ohmic heat generation, the finite duration and the finite length
of thermal disturbances. The thermophysical parameters of the conductor
are assumed constant. Critical energies are determined by the analysis
of variation of the maximum temperature in the normal zone with time. The
results obtained are compared with those predicted by the related model
based on the classical parabolic equation of heat conduction. The
differences are not large but they can be substantial especially in the
case of high current density devices.