Lightweight MgB2 superconducting 10 MW wind generator. (21st December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marino, I; Pujana, A; Sarmiento, G; Sanz, S; Merino, J M; Tropeano, M; Sun, J; Canosa, T
• Is Part Of: Superconductor science & technology. Volume 29:Number 2(2016:Feb.)
• Publication Date: 2015-12-21
• Subjects: superconducting generator -- wind turbine -- cryogen-free -- MgB2 coil; Superconductivity -- Periodicals; Superconductors -- Periodicals; 537.623
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-2048/29/2/024005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-2048

Abstract

Abstract: The offshore wind market demands a higher power rate and more reliable turbines in order to optimize capital and operational costs. The state-of-the-art shows that both geared and direct-drive conventional generators are difficult to scale up to 10 MW and beyond due to their huge size and weight. Superconducting direct-drive wind generators are considered a promising solution to achieve lighter weight machines. This work presents an innovative 10 MW 8.1 rpm direct-drive partial superconducting generator using MgB2 wire for the field coils. It has a warm iron rotor configuration with the superconducting coils working at 20 K while the rotor core and the armature are at ambient temperature. A cooling system based on cryocoolers installed in the rotor extracts the heat from the superconducting coils by conduction. The generator's main parameters are compared against a permanent magnet reference machine, showing a significant weight and size reduction. The 10 MW superconducting generator concept will be experimentally validated with a small-scale magnetic machine, which has innovative components such as superconducting coils, modular cryostats and cooling systems, and will have similar size and characteristics as the 10 MW generator.