The superconducting alternator has received considerable international attention over the last decade, with active programs to develop commercial units underway worldwide. Projected gains in efficiency and potential reduction in mass and construction costs have fueled superconducting alternator research. Although current research is focused on developing electric machines to supplant existing conventional alternators, the high power-density of the superconducting alternator makes it is attractive choice for generating electricity in space. This paper presents the results of a study to assess the feasibility of using a superconducting alternator for space power generation, and to develop a preliminary machine design. The preliminary design study examined a low power (20 MW) machine and a higher power (200 MW) machine. The superconducting alternator consists of a rotor with superconducting field windings and a counter rotating armature with normally conducting helical windings. A unique feature of this design is the counter rotation of the alternator armature. This will allow balancing the rotational inertia in the machine so that no torque is applied to the space platform.
Design of a superconducting alternator for space-based power generation
Entwurf eines supraleitendens Generators fuer Raumfahrzeuge
1986
6 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 7 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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