Modification and power testing of 10 MVA low temperature superconducting generator. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:83821

Smith, Jr, J L; Kirtley, Jr, J L ^[1]

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1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States)

This report covers work done to modify and test the existing MIT 10 MVA superconducting generator during the period December 15, 1989 through August 31, 1992. The work was funded in part by the Electric Power Research Institute and in part by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Advanced Vehicle Systems Technology Office, Submarine Technology Program, Mechanical and Electrical Area with the David Taylor Research Center serving as Technical Contract Manager. The MIT 10 MVA superconducting generator, rated for 13.8 kV 3600 RPM, was tested to an open circuit voltage of 12.9 kV. The superconducting rotor proved capable of remaining superconducting through a fault transient from 12 kV at no load. The generator test program was terminated as a result of a flash-over in the armature during open circuit operation just prior to first synchronous operation on the utility grid. The generator was successfully modified to eliminate all of the cryogenic and mechanical problems that were known when the work was started. In addition, several problems were uncovered and successfully eliminated in the course of the work. The cryogenic system for the generator was fully functional and the superconducting field winding was tested at rated open circuit current of 800 A and at rated speed of 3600 RPM. The superconducting rotor remained superconducting and My functional with no damage as a result of the severe conditions imposed by the turn-to-turn flash-over in the armature winding. No other superconducting generator rotor that has been reported in the literature has demonstrated this capability. In all of the reports on other machines, the superconducting field winding quenched when the machine was subjected to mild transients in the armature current The armature winding was operated at voltages above 10 kV during several open circuit runs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 83821
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR--105079
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
42 ENGINEERING
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ROTORS
SUPERCONDUCTING GENERATORS