System for Quench Protection of Superconducting Machines, Such as a Superconducting Wind Turbine Generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020321152-A1
Application number	US-201916373960-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 3, 2019
Priority date	Apr 3, 2019
Publication date	Oct 8, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A quench protection system for a superconducting machine, such as a superconducting generator having a plurality of series-arranged superconducting coils, includes at least one switch heater electrically coupled to each of the superconducting coils. A quench protection switch is provided in series with the coils, wherein each switch heater is in thermal contact with the quench protection switch. A heater network is configured in parallel with the quench protection switch and is in thermal contact with each of the coils. A quench of any one of the coils triggers a quench of the quench protection switch, wherein the heater network then triggers a quench of all of the remaining coils.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A quench protection system for a superconducting machine having a plurality of superconducting coils arranged in series, comprising:
at least one switch heater electrically coupled across each of the superconducting coils; a quench protection switch configured in series with the superconducting coils, each of the switch heaters in thermal contact with the quench protection switch; a heater network configured in parallel with the quench protection switch, the heater network in thermal contact with each of the coils; such that a quench of any one of the superconducting coils activates the switch heater coupled therewith and the activated switch heater triggers a quench of the quench protection switch; and wherein the quench of the quench protection switch activates the heater network to trigger a quench of all remaining superconducting coils.

2 . The quench protection system as in claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters.

3 . The quench protection system as in claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters.

4 . The quench protection system as in claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel and a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters.

5 . The quench protection system as in claim 1 , wherein the heater network comprises a single heater, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with the single heater.

6 . The quench protection system as in claim 1 , further comprising a voltage clamp device across the heater network.

7 . The quench protection system as in claim 1 , further comprising a shielding coil applied to the quench protection switch to accelerate quenching of the heater network.

8 . A superconducting generator, comprising:
a plurality of superconducting field coils arranged in series; a quench protection system, the quench protection system further comprising:
at least one switch heater electrically coupled across each of the field coils;
a quench protection switch configured in series with the superconducting coils, each of the switch heaters in thermal contact with the quench protection switch;
a heater network configured in parallel with the quench protection switch, the heater network in thermal contact with each of the coils;
such that a quench of any one of the superconducting coils activates the switch heater coupled therewith and the activated switch heater triggers a quench of the quench protection switch; and
wherein the quench of the quench protection switch activates the heater network to trigger a quench of all remaining superconducting coils.

9 . The superconducting generator as in claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters.

10 . The superconducting generator as in claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters.

11 . The superconducting generator as in claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a plurality of heaters connected in parallel and a plurality of heaters connected in series, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with at least one of the heaters.

12 . The superconducting generator as in claim 8 , wherein the heater network comprises a single heater, with each superconducting coil in thermal contact with the single heater.

13 . The superconducting generator as in claim 8 , further comprising a voltage clamp device across the heater network.

14 . The superconducting generator as in claim 8 , further comprising a shielding coil applied to the quench protection switch to accelerate quenching of the heater network.

15 . The superconducting generator as in claim 8 , wherein the superconducting generator is a wind turbine generator.

16 . A wind turbine power generating system, comprising:
a tower; a hub, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub; a rotor connected to the hub; a superconducting generator coupled to the rotor, the superconducting generator further comprising:
a plurality of superconducting field coils arranged in series;
a quench protection system, the quench protection system further comprising:
at least one switch heater electrically coupled across each of the field coils;
a quench protection switch configured in series with the superconducting coils, each of the switch heaters in thermal contact with the quench protection switch;
a heater network configured in parallel with the quench protection switch, the heater network in thermal contact with each of the coils;
such that a quench of any one of the superconducting coils activates the switch heater coupled therewith and the activated switch heater triggers a quench of the quench protection switch; and

wherein the quench of the quench protection switch activates the heater network to trigger a quench of all remaining superconducting coils.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Wu Anbo
• Parizh Michael
• Xu Minfeng

Classifications

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• H02K7/183

  wherein the turbine is a wind turbine (adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25) · CPC title

• H02K55/00

  Dynamo-electric machines having windings operating at cryogenic temperatures · CPC title

• H02K11/20 Primary

  for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching (rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33) · CPC title

• Y02E40/60

  Superconducting electric elements or equipment; Power systems integrating superconducting elements or equipment · CPC title