AC losses in a high temperature superconducting generator

As part of the DOE-SPI funded project a commercial HTS utility-size generator is being developed based on GE´s iron core superconducting generator technology. The iron core concept has significant advantages over air core designs. The rotor consists of a cold superconducting field coil and coil supports and a warm iron core, which takes the torque and transmits to the shafts. Heat load due to AC losses in the cold mass of the rotor are a key design constraint. Analyses have been performed both at the component and system levels. AC loss tests have been conducted on an HTS generator. This paper presents and discusses the analytical and test results.