Novel model of rotor design to increase the air gap flux of superconducting generator.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate a novel rotor design model to improve the technical performance of a superconducting synchronous generator. Design/methodology/approach: Superconducting synchronous generators with a modular rotating cryostat for a single coil of the superconducting winding instead of an old-style single cryostat in which all rotor components are cold are briefly discussed. Subsequently, a new method of cryostat arrangement in the magnetic system of a rotor is considered. Different options were compared for the cryostat placement. The advantages of the novel rotor design model are noted. Findings: In the novel rotor design model, the leakage coefficient of the excitation winding decreases, and the air gap magnetic flux increases, which will save on a superconductor material. Research limitations/implications: For the purposes of this investigation, a finite element study of flux distribution in the cross section of a superconducting synchronous generator with a 10 MW rating at 10 rpm was conducted, and the magnetic fluxes and air gap flux densities were obtained for different modes. For direct-drive superconducting synchronous generators with distributed winding and different pole numbers, the calculations of magnetic fluxes were carried out by calculating the magnetic conductivities. Originality/value: A new method of the cryostat arrangement in the magnetic system of a rotor has been classified as an invention and was protected by a patent. This paper is directly applicable to the field of superconducting synchronous generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]