Hardware Integration and Performance Analysis of a 10 kW HTS Wind Power Generator

Abstract

The use of high temperature superconducting (HTS) generators in a large-scale wind power generation systems has drawn much attention as a contemporary research topic. In this paper, a prototype 10 kW HTS generator was designed based on the suggested design process considering electromagnetic, thermal and mechanical characteristics of the generator. We estimated the output power of the generator and operating current of the HTS field coils was decided considering the critical current and perpendicular magnetic field of the HTS wire. The thermal characteristics of the HTS generator was analysed to confirm that it was cooled to the operating temperature of 30 K. The torque tube and sticks of the HTS rotor part in the generator were designed and analysed to withstand mechanical stress considering the torque and thermal contraction. Based on these results, the HTS generator was built, and tested to prove the adequacy of the established design process of the generator. The measured cooling temperature of the fabricated generator was cooled to the target temperature of 30 K, and the magnetic field values of the HTS field coils and armature were the same as the simulation values. Finally, the output power of the generator was reached to the target output power of 10 kW. In this paper, the detailed results of the operating performance of the 10 kW HTS generator are discussed in detail.