Superconducting Generator Driven by a Wind Turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022014072-A1
Application number	US-201817295142-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Nov 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A superconducting generator includes an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine. A stationary annular field winding is coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature. The field winding includes superconducting coils, and there is a non-rotating support for the field winding. The non-rotating support is a torque tube. The torque tube is a member formed of a composite material, or a member formed of a plurality of segmented sections, a space frame or strut torque carrying assembly. The torque tube is connected to a thermal shield casing or a field winding housing.

First claim

1 . A superconducting generator comprising:
an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine; a stationary annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coils; a non-rotating support for the field winding, the non-rotating support comprising a torque tube, the torque tube comprised of: a member formed of a composite material; or a member formed of a plurality of segmented sections; a space frame or strut torque carrying assembly; and wherein the torque tube is connected to a thermal shield casing or a field winding housing.

2 . The superconducting generator of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube comprises a generally cylindrical shaped member.

3 . The superconducting generator of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube comprises a frustoconical shaped member.

4 . The superconducting generator of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member formed of a composite material, and the composite material is mixtures of or one of:
a fiber reinforced plastic; an epoxy fiberglass laminate; a phenolic fiberglass laminate; a phenolic fiberglass with wound filaments; a polyester fiberglass laminate; a polyester fiberglass laminate with wound filaments; a polymide fiberglass laminate; a carbon epoxy; or a fiberglass epoxy laminate.

5 . The superconducting generator of claim 4 , wherein the composite material has a hoop oriented fiber pattern with angles oriented at about 65 degrees to about 85 degrees.

6 . The superconducting generator of claim 4 , wherein the composite material has a hoop oriented fiber pattern with angles oriented at about 75 degrees.

7 . The superconducting generator of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member of a plurality of segmented sections, and each of the sections is a flat plate.

8 . The superconducting generator of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member of a plurality of segmented sections, and each of the sections is a arcuate plate.

9 . The superconducting generator of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member of a plurality of segmented sections, and each of the sections is a strap.

10 . The superconducting generator of claim 1 , wherein the torque tube comprises the space frame or strut torque carrying assembly.

11 . A wind turbine comprising:
a tower; a nacelle mounted on top of the tower; a hub connected to the nacelle and supported by the tower; a plurality of blades connected to the hub; a superconducting generator housed within the nacelle, the superconducting generator comprising:
an annular armature connectable to rotate with the hub;
a stationary annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coils;
a non-rotating support for the field winding, the non-rotating support comprising a torque tube, the torque tube comprised of:
a member formed of a composite material; or
a member formed of a plurality of segmented sections;
a space frame or strut torque carrying assembly; and
wherein the torque tube is connected to a thermal shield casing or a field winding housing.

12 . The wind turbine of claim 11 , wherein the torque tube comprises a generally cylindrical shaped member.

13 . The wind turbine of claim 11 , wherein the torque tube comprises a frustoconical shaped member.

14 . The wind turbine of claim 11 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member formed of a composite material, and the composite material is mixtures of or one of:
a fiber reinforced plastic; an epoxy fiberglass laminate; a phenolic fiberglass laminate; a phenolic fiberglass with wound filaments; a polyester fiberglass laminate; a polyester fiberglass laminate with wound filaments; a polymide fiberglass laminate; a carbon epoxy; or a fiberglass epoxy laminate.

15 . The wind turbine of claim 14 , wherein the composite material has a hoop oriented fiber pattern with angles oriented at about 65 degrees to about 85 degrees.

16 . The wind turbine of claim 14 , wherein the composite material has a hoop oriented fiber pattern with angles oriented at about 75 degrees.

17 . The wind turbine of claim 11 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member of a plurality of segmented sections, and each of the sections is a flat plate.

18 . The wind turbine of claim 11 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member of a plurality of segmented sections, and each of the sections is a arcuate plate.

19 . The wind turbine of claim 11 , wherein the torque tube comprises the member of a plurality of segmented sections, and each of the sections is a strap.

20 . The wind turbine of claim 11 , wherein the torque tube comprises the space frame or strut torque carrying assembly.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Stautner Ernst Wolfgang
• Vermilyea Mark Ernest
• Kagan Alexander

Classifications

• F03D9/257

  the wind motor being part of a wind farm · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• H02K3/47

  Air-gap windings, i.e. iron-free windings · CPC title

• H02K9/197

  in which the rotor or stator space is fluid-tight, e.g. to provide for different cooling media for rotor and stator · CPC title

• H02K55/04 Primary

  with rotating field windings · CPC title