HTS Vernier Machine for Direct-Drive Wind Power Generation

A high-temperature superconducting (HTS) vernier machine is proposed for direct-drive wind power generation. The rotor adopts conventional configuration where high-temperature superconductors are used for field winding, while the stator has toothed-pole structure, which is composed of copper drum windings and iron core, thus combining advantages of both HTS and vernier machines. With the employment of finite-element analysis, the electromagnetic performances of the proposed machine are evaluated and quantitatively compared with a conventional HTS generator. It is found that the HTS vernier machine can provide higher average torque, lower pulsation torque, higher efficiency and smaller short circuit current, among which the last one is rather large in conventional HTS machines.