Abstract: A high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet coil disposed within a cryostat is configured with a thermo-siphon cooling system containing a liquid cryogen. The cooling system is configured to indirectly conduction cool the HTS magnet coil by nucleate boiling of the liquid cryogen that is circulated by the thermo-siphon in a cooling tube attached to a heat exchanger bonded to the outside surface of the HTS magnet coil. A supply dewar is configured with a re-condenser cryocooler coldhead to recondense boiloff vapors generated during the nucleate boiling process.

Abstract: A superconducting field coil assembly includes a superconducting field coil disposed within a vacuum insulated electro-magnetic (EM) shielded cryostat. A water cooling jacket is thermally integrated with the outer surface of the EM shielded cryostat.

Abstract: A homopolar electrical machine includes a stator having a stationary magnetic core and multiple stator windings disposed within the stationary magnetic core. A rotor includes a first set of pole pieces at a first end of a shaft and a second set of pole pieces at a second end of the shaft. The pole pieces are separated by air gaps. The rotor is a one-piece structure having only the shaft, the first set of pole pieces, and the second set of pole pieces integrally formed from a single material. A stationary field coil is coupled to the stator. The stationary field coil includes a cryostat configured to cool the stationary field coil to superconducting temperatures. The stationary field coil has a coil diameter that is at least partially greater than an outer diameter of the rotor.

Abstract: A system for protecting superconducting generator field coils including a controller configured to monitor for a quenching of a superconducting field coil of a generator and control a dissipation of a current flow in the superconducting field coil in an event of the quenching, and an armature coil of the generator configured to cause the dissipation of the current flow in the superconducting field coil responsive to the controller in the event of the quenching of the superconducting field coil. A method for protecting superconducting generator field coils including monitoring for a quenching of a superconducting field coil of a generator, and dissipating a current flow in the superconducting field coil via an armature coil of the generator in response to a detection of the quenching.

Abstract: A superconducting direct drive wind generator including an armature coil constructed of a first superconducting material and a field coil constructed of a second superconducting material, wherein, during operation of the generator, the armature coil and the field coil are in electromagnetic communication and the field coil produces a magnetic field in response to an excitation current flow therethrough that induces an output current flow in the armature coil that generates an electrical power output.

Abstract: An electrical component comprises a superconductive wire, the wire comprising a first wire segment joined to a second wire segment, wherein the first wire segment and the second wire segment differ in at least one property selected from the group consisting of magnetic field tolerance, temperature tolerance, ac loss, and strain tolerance, and wherein the magnetic field tolerance is measured by the relationship of critical current Ic to magnetic field H at a given temperature T below critical temperature Tc, the temperature tolerance is measured by the relationship of critical current Ic to temperature T at a given magnetic field below critical magnetic field Hc, the ac loss is measured by the amount of ac loss versus the frequency and magnitude of applied ac currents and fields, and the strain tolerance is measured by critical current Ic degradation with strain.

Abstract: An electrical motor/generator is provided with at least one of a superconducting rotor, a stator including dovetailed winding dividers, and a stator cooling arrangement with at least one cooling tube per winding slot positioned such that each armature winding is thermally coupled to at least one cooling tube.

Abstract: A method of operating a high speed machine, wherein the method includes providing at least one heteropolar generator that includes a stator, a rotor, and at least one stationary superconducting field coil therein. The method also includes coupling at least one cryogenic refrigeration system to the at least one stationary superconducting field coil, wherein the at least one cryogenic refrigeration system is coupled in flow communication with only the at least one stationary superconducting field coils to facilitate reducing an operating temperature of the at least one stationary superconducting field coil.

Abstract: A generator including: an annular armature connectable to rotate with blades of a wind turbine; an annular stationary field winding assembly coaxial with the armature and separated by a gap from an inside surface of the armature, wherein the field winding include superconducting coils, and support structure connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an electromechanical device includes a rotor having a rotational axis, and a stator disposed about the rotor. The stator may include a circumferentially laminated section comprising a plurality of circumferential segments disposed one after another in a circumferential direction relative to the rotational axis. The stator also may include a radially laminated section comprising a plurality of radial segments disposed one after another in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis. In addition, the stator may include an axially laminated section comprising a plurality of axial segments disposed one after another in an axial direction relative to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A method of operating a high speed machine, wherein the method includes providing at least one heteropolar generator that includes a stator, a rotor, and at least one stationary superconducting field coil therein. The method also includes coupling at least one cryogenic refrigeration system to the at least one stationary superconducting field coil, wherein the at least one cryogenic refrigeration system is coupled in flow communication with only the at least one stationary superconducting field coils to facilitate reducing an operating temperature of the at least one stationary superconducting field coil.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an electromechanical device includes a rotor having a rotational axis, and a stator disposed about the rotor. The stator may include a circumferentially laminated section comprising a plurality of circumferential segments disposed one after another in a circumferential direction relative to the rotational axis. The stator also may include a radially laminated section comprising a plurality of radial segments disposed one after another in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis. In addition, the stator may include an axially laminated section comprising a plurality of axial segments disposed one after another in an axial direction relative to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A winding of an electric machine is provided, where the winding includes at least one series of serially connected AC bars. Each AC bar includes a series of serially connected turns formed by litz wire having a plurality of strands, and at least one cooling tube. Individual strands of the plurality of strands are respectively positioned substantially adjacent to the at least one cooling tube at at least one transfer point for providing heat transfer from the respective individual strands to the at least one cooling tube.

Abstract: A composite sealed vessel is provided. The vessel includes a non-metallic, generally cylindrical inner containment piece, a non-metallic, generally cylindrical outer containment piece disposed around the inner containment piece. A pair of non-metallic flanges are disposed at ends of the inner and outer containment pieces to form a closed structure defining a cavity therein. The vessel also includes a metallic external lining disposed over the closed structure to form a leak-tight pressure boundary.

Abstract: An electrical machine includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a central opening that is configured to receive the rotor. The rotor includes a generally cylindrical first section comprising a first material mounted on an axially extending shaft within the central opening. The rotor further includes a second section having a second material of a predetermined thickness that is plated integrally over at least a portion of the first section. The second material has a higher electrical conductivity relative to the first material. In certain embodiments, the electrical machine may include a stator support structure having a clamping member comprising a first material and configured to rigidly position the stator around the rotor. The stator support structure further includes an electrically conductive layer comprising a second material plated integrally over the clamping structure, wherein the second material has a higher electrical conductivity relative to the first material.

Abstract: A flexible stator bar generally includes a stranded conductor having a rectangular shaped cross sectional profile, wherein the stranded conductor comprises a plurality of wires having a gauge dimension effective to impart flexibility; and a thermoplastic elastomeric insulating material disposed about the stranded conductor. Also disclosed herein are processes for fabricating the flexible stator bar, which generally comprises depositing a thermoplastic elastomeric insulating material onto the flexible stranded conductor, which can be flexibly oriented into a desired position, thereby improving dimensional control relative to Roebel-type stator bars. The insulated flexible stranded conductor may then be coated with a B-stage epoxy or the like and cured to form the final shape after assembly within the desired electrical machine application.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting a superconductor from a quench condition. A quench protection system is provided to protect the superconductor from damage due to a quench condition. The quench protection system comprises a voltage detector operable to detect voltage across the superconductor. The system also comprises a frequency filter coupled to the voltage detector. The frequency filter is operable to couple voltage signals to a control circuit that are representative of a rise in superconductor voltage caused by a quench condition and to block voltage signals that are not. The system is operable to detect whether a quench condition exists in the superconductor based on the voltage signal received via the frequency filter and to initiate a protective action in response.

Abstract: An electrical motor/generator is provided with at least one of a superconducting rotor, a stator including dovetailed winding dividers, and a stator cooling arrangement with at least one cooling tube per winding slot positioned such that each armature winding is thermally coupled to at least one cooling tube.

Abstract: A power generation plant comprising a power generating unit that includes at least one first generator, such as an induction generator, coupled to at least one synchronous generator having a rotor with a superconducting (SC) coil. The induction generator and the SC synchronous generator are coupled so that the SC synchronous generator supplies the induction generator with reactive power. Sufficient reactive power is preferably generated by the SC synchronous generator to meet the demand of the induction generator for VARs, as well as permit the induction generator to have a relatively large airgap.

Abstract: A winding of an electric machine is provided, where the winding includes at least one series of serially connected AC bars. Each AC bar includes a series of serially connected turns formed by litz wire having a plurality of strands, and at least one cooling tube. Individual strands of the plurality of strands are respectively positioned substantially adjacent to the at least one cooling tube at at least one transfer point for providing heat transfer from the respective individual strands to the at least one cooling tube.