Superconducting power generation

With respect to the electric power industry, the superconducting AC generator has the greatest potential for large-scale commercial application of superconductivity. Such a machine should be able to convert mechanical energy to electric energy more efficiently and with greater economy of weight and volume than any other method. These advantages can be accrued at a scale of 1200 MVA output, with the added potential of operation at transmission line voltage and greater system stability. In the past, a great deal of R&D was done in this area, but the present industry trend to smaller machines has decreased this effort. Though the advantages diminish at the much smaller scale of 250 MVA, such machines still offer interesting possibilities. Superconducting synchronous generators with a superconducting adjustable field rotor keep power losses to a minimum since the field in the stator is phase-locked in synchronism with the rotating rotor field. The high magnetic flux density produced by a superconducting rotor field winding permits a great reduction in the amount of iron required in both the rotor and stator. This reduction introduces degrees of freedom not previously possible in generator or motor design. This article is written to help better perceive the technological potential of new developments