Realization of an inductor of a superconducting machine – REIMS

The superconducting motors and generators are a particularly interesting solution for electric propulsion and power generation. These superconducting devices are used to obtain power and torque and mass volume very high. Moreover, the high efficiency of these machines, making them attractive in terms of saving energy. One goal is to find new structures of superconducting machines or optimizing existing ones. One of technical challenges that are superconducting windings must be cooled to a few tens of Kelvin and connected to transmit torque to the outside environment at room temperature with minimal heat loss.
Among all the achievements we may distinguish several major areas of power. Firstly, there are small machines with a capacity below 10 kilowatts. It is essentially built laboratory prototypes in academia to study all topologies engines imaginable and validate the principles of operation. In addition, there are machines whose power is between 10 and 100 kilowatts. These machines are intermediate between machines laboratory and industrial demonstrations. Their power, relatively large, validates technical solutions and explore topologies machine outside the box. Then there motors or alternators superconducting high power. These projects cover all industrial demonstrations to check the feasibility of such large-scale machinery and possibly locate a site of use.
It is possible to replace the copper windings of an inductor by son superconductors. But another solution exists: to manufacture superconducting magnets. In the first case, we have high capacity power transmission son of superconductors, in the second case, we use the capacity of superconducting materials massive trap magnetic fields. It is necessary to compare the performance of these two types of inducers. Among the problems, there is the need to magnetize the superconducting materials in situ. The behavior of the superconducting magnet when subjected to a magnetizing field is one of the crucial points. One issue for the project we propose is to check if it is possible to induce a superconductor with superconducting magnets and compare it with an inductor designed with superconducting son.
This industrial research project is divided into two parts: a very practical approach aimed at integrating conductive elements according to precise specifications in an electric motor sized target pre purposes of demonstration and validation, then a forward-looking approach aimed at use these results on devices larger machines or rotating at high speed. These efforts also aim to assess the potential of materials and their impacts on topology machines and associated cryogenic systems.