Vertical-Axis Superconducting Generator Cooling for Lower Tower-Top Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional horizontal axis wind turbines face challenges in achieving large-scale construction due to load collection from one-point support, increased installation and maintenance costs, and instability in floating offshore applications due to high top-head weight and center of weight distribution.
Innovation Solution
A vertical axis wind turbine equipped with a high-temperature superconducting generator featuring a batch impregnation cooling structure using a cryogen, where the generator and accessory devices are located under the turbine tower, and only the rotary body with vertical blades is on top, reducing top-head weight and simplifying the cooling structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the cooling system is located under the turbine tower, then the top-head weight is reduced, but the supply line for transferring cooling medium becomes extended causing manufacturing and maintenance difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two parts: the cryogenic cooling system components (compressor, condenser, expansion valve) are located under the turbine tower on the ground, while only the essential refrigerant supply line passes through the tower to the generator. This segmentation allows the heavy cooling equipment to be on the ground, reducing top-head weight, while maintaining cooling functionality through the simplified vertical refrigerant line.
2Temperature
If a radial-gap type superconducting generator is used with horizontal cooling path, then cooling capability is sufficient, but a separate cooling system on normal temperature portion is required increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant cooling path is merged with the rotor shaft structure. The refrigerant flows axially through the rotor shaft from the normal temperature region to the superconducting field coil, combining the cooling function with the mechanical support structure. This eliminates the need for separate horizontal cooling paths and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor shaft serves as an intermediary component that performs dual functions: mechanical support for the superconducting field coil and thermal conduction path for the refrigerant. This intermediary structure allows efficient heat transfer from the superconducting coil to the refrigerant without requiring separate cooling infrastructure.
3Power
If conventional horizontal axis turbine with airfoil blades is used, then power generation is efficient, but load collection from one point support prevents large scale construction
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine configuration is inverted from the conventional horizontal axis design to a vertical axis design. The blades are arranged vertically around the rotor shaft, and wind flows horizontally past the blades. This inversion changes the load distribution from concentrated at one point to distributed along the vertical shaft, enabling large-scale construction while maintaining power generation efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly reduces installation and maintenance costs, allows for larger scale construction, and enhances stability in floating offshore applications by minimizing the size and weight of the floating body and improving thermal stability of the superconducting coils.
Implementation Method 1
a high-temperature superconducting field coil wound around a rotor core vertically standing on the rotor shaft
Implementation Method 2
a superconducting armature coil wound around a stator core in such a way as to be spaced apart from the rotor by a given distance
Implementation Method 3
a cryostat accommodating the rotor core, the rotor, and the stator as an integral module, wherein a circulation type cooling system is disposed in the cryostat
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vertical axis wind turbine equipped with a high-temperature superconducting generator having a batch impregnation cooling structure.The vertical axis wind turbine is configured to allow the superconducting generator and accessory devices (a cooling system, a power conversion system, etc.) to be located under a turbine tower, whereas allowing only a rotary body with vertical blades to be located on the upper portion of the turbine tower, unlike a conventional horizontal axis wind turbine, thereby remarkably reducing a top-head weight of the wind turbine, greatly decreasing installation and maintenance costs, removing technical difficulties in large scale construction, and allowing a center of weight to move to a portion under the turbine tower so that if the vertical axis wind turbine is applied for floating offshore wind power generation, it advantageously ensures the miniaturization of a floating body and the stability of a floating posture.