System Products · Grid, energy and industrial systems

Wind Turbine Generators

The Future of High-Power Wind Generators

Compare the two direct-drive generators ↓

Hyper Tech’s low AC loss MgB2 superconductors have enabled the development of all-superconducting, rotor and stator, high power 5–20 MW wind turbine generators with higher efficiencies.

The Challenge: Scaling Up Wind Energy

Harnessing wind energy provides an alternative to consumable fuel resources. Land based and offshore wind energy farms are becoming more desirable; however, larger power blades and towers are needed to meet growing demand for this power source and for the equipment to be viable offshore.

The Risk of Permanent Magnet Generators

The wind energy industry uses rare earth permanent magnet (PM) based direct drive turbine generators rated at 2–15 MW. At the 15 MW scale, these generators can weigh over 400 tons and cost well over $5M.

The wind energy industry will be at risk if turbine technology is solely based on PM materials because over 90% of the world’s rare earth PM market is controlled by one overseas country.

The Superconducting Advantage

An alternative solution for the wind industry is wind turbine generators free of rare earth permanent magnets using superconducting (MgB2) technology.

An MgB2 superconducting direct drive generator will minimize tower size and weight by substituting heavy iron with lightweight composites and will increase the power density of the wind turbine. Equipment reliability increases because of a more simplistic generator rotor design.

Hyper Tech’s low AC loss superconductor wire has removed the barriers to developing an all-superconducting, rotor and stator, high power wind turbine generator that is less costly than machines based on rare earth PM material.

How it works

Two direct-drive approaches to wind power

Compare permanent-magnet direct-drive wind turbine generators in the 2–15 MW range with Hyper Tech’s all-superconducting MgB2 direct-drive generators in the 5–20 MW range. Generator design affects nacelle weight, tower requirements, cost and material supply.

Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram.

Offshore wind turbine and two direct-drive generator options An offshore wind turbine turns. A cutaway of the nacelle shows either a large permanent-magnet direct-drive generator using rare-earth magnets or a compact superconducting MgB2 direct-drive generator with a cryocooler. Power flows down the tower to a subsea cable. Subsea cable OFFSHORE WIND INSIDE THE NACELLE Rotor hub ~10 rpm Heavy ironrotor and stator 400+ metric tons Rare-earth magnets (red and blue) around the rotor Lightweightcomposites Cryocooler No rare earths MgB2 coils on rotor and stator Cold, low AC loss, direct drive
Simplified illustration, not to scale and not an engineering drawing.

Direct drive comparison details

Permanent magnet direct drive

Rating: 2–15 MW permanent-magnet direct drive.

Weight and cost: At the 15 MW scale, over 400 metric tons and well over $5M.

Supply risk: Over 90% of the rare-earth permanent-magnet market is controlled by one overseas country.

Superconducting direct drive

Rating: All-superconducting rotor and stator, 5–20 MW, with higher efficiency.

Lighter tower: Lightweight composites replace heavy iron, raising power density.

Rotor design: A simpler generator rotor supports reliability.