Generation
Rotating Machines
Motors & Generators
Superconducting turbines and other rotating machines are expected to generate the largest future demand for superconducting wire.
Superconducting wire will enable electric motors and generators to operate at
much higher power densities. When compared to a copper wire based electric
machines with equivalent output power, future superconducting motors and
generators will enable a significant size reductions with higher efficiencies.
One potential sweet-spot for high-powered superconducting generators is
expected to be 10+ megawatt offshore wind turbines. Offshore superconducting
wind turbines promise to capture clean energy at a lower cost than competing
renewables, while delivering power directly to growing coastal cities.
Conductus® 10 MW wind turbine
Superconducting wind turbines are expected to play a unique role offshore as conventional technology cannot achieve the
“power per tower” requirement. Although initial costs for large offshore turbines are higher due to the foundations and
mechanical structures, these costs can be recouped by higher energy yields.
•
•
Offers significant
size reductions
and increased
performance over
conventional
technologies
Motors and
generators utilize
10’s to 100’s of
kilometers of superconducting wire
per device
The increase in power density provided by superconducting turbines
significantly reduces generator weight and maximizes power per tower,
turning wind power into an economically viable alternative.
Superconducting Wind Turbine
Cumulative Revenue Potential
Wind energy is taking shape as a critical world resource
for electric power. Today, wind energy is primarily land
based. The expected future trend is to exploit a largely
untapped supply of offshore wind energy. However, it will
take time to build enough infrastructure for offshore wind
power to significantly contribute to the power grid.
$ Million
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
Combined US
&
European Market
$1,000
$500
US Market
0
2008
2012
2016
2020
2022
2026
2030
US Department of Energy, 20% Wind Scenario
Source: U.S.Source:
DOE
Output
Wind Turbine Growth Estimates
(megawatts)
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2012
<5 MW
2013
2014
>5 MW
2015
2016
2017
Source: U.S. DOE
2018
2019
2020
Superconducting Motors & Generators (cont.)
Power output of offshore wind turbines will generally be much higher than that of on-shore
turbines. The higher the power output of a single turbine, the better the payback will be.
The longer the turbine blades the larger the swept area for more wind capture. A 10 MW
wind turbine with a swept area three times larger in diameter than a comparably sized
conventional wind turbine (i.e. 3.3MW) can capture 4.3 times the power.
Rotor Diameter
(meters)
300
252 meters
250
200
178 meters
160 meters
150
Superconducting technology is the key enabler for a >5 MW wind turbine. Superconducting
coils will drastically reduce the size (2-3 x) of the wind turbine while generating the same
power output. Conductus® wire has a very high current density advantage over copper,
reducing the size and weight of generators.
• 4 Amps/sq mm (Copper) vs. 400 Amps/sq mm (assuming 500A/cm width for
Conductus® Wire) = 100X improvement.
• Size reduction translates directly to cost savings.
• Greatly reduces the amount of magnetic steel and structural steel required.
• Conductus® Wire power handling performance at a lower market cost
will enable superconducting wire to compete and beat permanent magnet
technology.
126 meters
112 meters
100
50
15 meters
0
Year
‘85
MW
.O5
‘87
‘89
‘91
.3
‘93
.5
Installed Systems
‘95
‘97
‘99
1.3
1.6
2
‘01
‘03
‘05
4.5
‘07
5
‘09 ‘11
8/10
‘13
Projected Scale
In Progress
‘15
‘19 ‘21
17 20
Source: US Department of Energy, EWEA
“A 10% increase in tower height creates a 33% increase in
available energy.” (DOE 20% Wind by 2030 Report, 2009)
Current Technology Will Not Serve the Offshore Wind Requirement
Wound rotor and stator generator technology, which is prevalent in current turbine designs, will prove inadequate at these higher levels. The combination of
the weight and size of the generator and associated gearbox will require larger and more costly towers and foundations which will adversely impact payback.
In addition, considering the prospects of moving beyond 10 MW of power output for a single turbine, it is obvious that new technologies will be required to
support the growth of offshore.
Wind Turbine Applications
Output
Wind Turbine Technology Weight Comparison
(megawatts)
10
400 mt
300 mt
9
200 mt
Engineering Limit
8
100 mt
7
Drivetrain
Weight
6
(metric tons)
5
Limit of Industrial 3 Stage Gearboxes
4
10 mt
3
2
1
0
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
Gearbox & Asynchonous Drives
Permanent Magnet Direct Drive
Copper Direct Drive
Superconducting Direct Drive
1 mt
0
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Generator Power (MWatts)
Conventional Generators
Source: U.S. DOE
Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
2
Permanent Magnet Generators
Source: U.S. DOE
9101 Wall St., Ste 1300 Austin, TX 78754
www.suptech.com
Superconducting Generators