Performance of a 10-kJ SMES model cooled by liquid hydrogen thermo-siphon flow for ASPCS study

Y Makida,T Hamajima,M Tsuda,T Komagome,S Fujikawa,K Ando,N Ota,H Tsujigami,D Miyagi,M Katsura,K Iwaki,J Hirose,T Takao,T Shintomi

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/101/1/012028

Abstract

We propose a new electrical power storage and stabilization system, called an Advanced Superconducting Power Conditioning System (ASPCS), which consists of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) and hydrogen energy storage, converged on a liquid hydrogen station for fuel cell vehicles. A small 10- kJ SMES system, in which a BSCCO coil cooled by liquid hydrogen was installed, was developed to create an experimental model of an ASPCS. The SMES coil is conductively cooled by liquid hydrogen flow through a thermo-siphon line under a liquid hydrogen buffer tank. After fabrication of the system, cooldown tests were carried out using liquid hydrogen. The SMES coil was successfully charged up to a nominal current of 200 A. An eddy current loss, which was mainly induced in pure aluminum plates pasted onto each pancake coils for conduction cooling, was also measured.

Highlights

To effectively use renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaic power generations, we propose a new electrical power storage and stabilization system, called an Advanced Superconducting Power Conditioning System (ASPCS), that consists of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), a fuel cellelectrolyser (FC-EL), hydrogen storage, direct-current-to-direct current (DC/DC) and direct-current-to-alternating-current (DC/AC) converters, and a controller
The ASPCS model, which handles 1-kW power generated by a solar cell system, consists of a 10-kJ SMES, an FC unit, an EL unit, a hydrogen storage tank, and a control system
Conductive cooling: The coil is kept at appropriate temperature by liquid hydrogen cooling through thermal conduction path in pure aluminum sheets

Summary

Introduction

To effectively use renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaic power generations, we propose a new electrical power storage and stabilization system, called an Advanced Superconducting Power Conditioning System (ASPCS), that consists of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), a fuel cellelectrolyser (FC-EL), hydrogen storage, direct-current-to-direct current (DC/DC) and direct-current-to-alternating-current (DC/AC) converters, and a controller. Many engineering studies and development efforts are required to produce an ASPCS. The most important topics are (1) establishment of combined input/output power control loops and sequences of both SMES and FC-ELs for ASPCS operation and (2) confirmation of the feasibility of the liquid hydrogen-based cooling scheme. A small model of the ASPCS was developed to demonstrate the ASPCS’s effects and to study these topics.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion