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Research project
The main idea behind using a superconducting wind turbine generator is the following:
Superconducting technology enables a more compact design resulting in a reduced generator weight and potentially an obsolete gear box. Currently, the largest size of wind turbine generators is about 3 MW, with a typical height of about 100 meters, while the weight of the nacelle is about 500 tons. There has been a steady increase of the size and power rating of wind turbines and the next generation wind turbines for off shore wind farms will have power ratings of up to10 – 20 MW. The height of these windmills may be as high as 200 meters while the weight of the nacelle may be 1000 – 2000 tons.
Obviously a new technology that can reduce the weight and size of the nacelle is desired. The weight of a superconducting generator with the same rating has been estimated to as low as 30 to 40 percent of a conventional generator; the volume would be reduced correspondingly. An important issue to consider is if combining superconductors with a multipole generator concept is feasible in order to avoid the heavy gearbox. The experience gained in this study should lead to the design of a prototype 50 kW superconducting windmill generator to be tested in an existing test windmill.
Based on the acquired knowledge leading to the design of a 50 kW superconducting wind turbine generator a study will be undertaken to see what it takes to construct a superconducting wind turbine generator with a rated power of 10 MW, i.e. the desired size to be used in future offshore wind turbine parks.
Link
Contact:
Bogi Bech Jensen
July 2010
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