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Superconducting Direct Drive Wind Turbine Generators: Advantages and Challenges

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Wind Energy Conversion Systems

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

This chapter contains a discussion of the advantages and challenges of introducing superconducting generators in future wind turbines. A special focus is given to the European offshore wind turbine marked, because this is the most mature and because the European Union (EU) has decided on a 20% renewable energy share of the electricity by 2020. Thus there are already scenarios of how the offshore wind power capacity is expected to develop in EU over the next two decades and this is used as the framework for a discussion of the advancements needed to make the superconducting drive trains feasible. The text is organized in a section first outlining the EU offshore plans; a section on the different drive trains; a section on the materials used to produce and shape the magnetic field in the generators and finally a section on the superconducting, vacuum, cryostat and cooling challenges of the superconducting direct drive technology.

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Acknowledgment

The funding of the Superwind project was provided by the Technical University of Denmark from the globalization funds and the support of Henrik Bindslev is acknowledged. Also the valuable discussions with colleges and co-workers are acknowledged. This work is dedicated to the memory of Steen Tronæs Frandsen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for sustainable energy, Technical University of Denmark, Building 229, Room S47, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    Asger Bech Abrahamsen

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark

    Bogi Bech Jensen

Authors
  1. Asger Bech Abrahamsen
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  2. Bogi Bech Jensen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asger Bech Abrahamsen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Electrical Engineering, The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, Utd.Arab.Emir.

    S.M. Muyeen

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Abrahamsen, A.B., Jensen, B.B. (2012). Superconducting Direct Drive Wind Turbine Generators: Advantages and Challenges. In: Muyeen, S. (eds) Wind Energy Conversion Systems. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2201-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2201-2_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-2200-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2201-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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