Development of superconducting AC generator

A 50-MVA superconducting generator was manufactured and tested. It was found that cool down of the rotor was completed smoothly in about 40 h and stable rotation was possible at 3600 r.p.m. The 50-MVA generator was connected to a power network without disturbance at synchronization, and it was successfully operated for 80 min as a synchronous condenser. The authors also discuss the design concepts for a 1000-MW superconducting generator. In this design superconducting field coils are put in twelve slots per pole and fixed by metallic wedges. Homogeneous damper, double bearing system and diamond airgap armature winding are adopted. On the basis of the 50-MVA test results and the 1000-MW design concept, a technical overview is presented of the possible development of such a 1000-MW generator.