Structural design and heat load analysis of a flux pump-based HTS module coil for a large-scale wind power generator

Abstract

Superconducting generators typically require a power supply, current lead (CL) and slip ring to deliver DC current to a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coil, which causes a conduction heat load. On the other hand, a flux pump (FP) is possible to supply DC current to the HTS coils of the generator without the heat transfer loads. This paper deals with a structural design and heat load analysis of an FP-based HTS module coil for a 12 MW wind power generator. The structures such as HTS coil bobbins, coil supports, and the connection components between the FP and the HTS coils were designed. The conduction and radiation heat loads of the FP-based HTS module coils were analysed using a 3D finite element method program. The results of the HTS module coil of the generator were compared with a conventional CL-based HTS module coil. As a result, the total heat loads of the FP-based HTS module coil were lower than the conventional CL-based HTS module coil. The structural design and heat load analysis results of the FP-based HTS module coil can effectively be utilized to develop a large-scale HTS wind power generator.