Superconducting Generators for
Large Wind Turbines
Ozan Keysan
o.keysan@ed.ac.uk
Institute for Energy Systems
The University of Edinburgh
26/09/2012
Motivation
BARD 5MW
In 2020, 85% of offshore wind turbine
installations will be larger than 5 MW
Global Offshore Wind Energy Markets and Strategies,2009
Wind Turbines: Constantly Growing
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How big?
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UpWind Project: A 20 MW Wind Turbine is Feasible
www.upwind.eu
Superconducting Machines
Converteam (ALSTOM): 5 MW HTS
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Siemens: 400 kW
Courtesy of Siemens, Converteam (ALSTOM)
Power Applications : Electrical Machines
36.5 MW, 120 rpm (U.S. Navy, AMSC)
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Courtesy of AMSC
Mass of Direct-Drive Generators
Enercon
4.5 MW, 13 rpm
220 tonnes
Harakosan
1.5MW,18 rpm,47 tonnes
All data available at
goo.gl/ZZivv
(*) D. Bang et.al. “Review of Generator Systems for Direct-Drive Wind Turbines,” 2008,
Mass of Direct-Drive Generators
All data available at
goo.gl/ZZivv
Reliability of Wind Turbines
~1MW, 1500 onshore turbines
Hahn, B., & Durstewitz, M. (2007). Wind Energy-Reliability of Wind Turbines.
Reliability?
Issues with Superconducting Generators
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Cooling System
Cryogenic Couplers
Electric Brushes
Transient torques on SC
Demagnetization for Bulk SC
AC losses on SC wire
SeaTitan
AMSC, 10 MW, 10 rpm
Direct-drive superconducting generator
Transverse Flux HTSG
Transverse Flux HTSG
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Pros
 Single Stationary SC Coil
 No Brushes
 No Cryogenic Coupler
 Bidirectional flux
 High Torque Density
Cons
 Magnetic Attraction Forces
 3D Flux (Soft magnetic
composites needed)
Linear Prototype
Linear Prototype
Some Photos & A Short Video
Next Stage

A Superconducting Field
Winding
Simple Insulation
 LN2 bath

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Design for Large Wind
Turbine
10 MW 10 rpm
 Mass/Cost Estimation

THANKS