초록 ▼

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 s

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A generator comprising: an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine; a non-rotating annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnet

What is claimed is: 1. A generator comprising: an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine; a non-rotating annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets; a non-rotating support for the field winding; a torque transmission arm coupling the non-rotating support for the field winding to a base fixed to an upper region of the tower, wherein the torque transmission arm is connected at one end region to the non-rotating support and is connected at an opposite end region to the base, and wherein the torque transmission arm suspends the field winding over the base, and at least one re-condenser mounted above the array of field windings. 2. The generator in claim 1 wherein the annular field winding is radially inward of the gap and armature. 3. A generator comprising: an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine; a non-rotating annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding include superconducting coil magnets, and a non-rotating support for the field winding and connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine, wherein the non-rotating support includes an insulating annular housing for the field winding, and the housing is mounted by a torque tube to a base fixed to the upper region of the tower. 4. A generator comprising: an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine; a non-rotating annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding include superconducting coil magnets, and a non-rotating support for the field winding and connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine, wherein the non-rotating support includes an insulating housing for the array of coil magnets, an annular chamber suspended by a torque tube in an evacuated interior of the housing, and further the annular chamber includes an annular casing enclosing the coil magnets. 5. A generator as in claim 4 further comprising a disc rotating with the armature and a brake releasably grasping the disc. 6. A generator as in claim 4 further comprising insulated conduits for the superconducting coil magnets extending through the insulating housing and upward to a re-condenser mounted above the field winding. 7. A generator for a wind turbine mounted on a tower comprising: an annular armature driven directly by a wind turbine and rotating with a rotating component of the wind turbine; a non-rotating annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by an annular gap from the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets; a non-rotating support for the field winding; a torque transmission arm coupling the non-rotating support for the field winding to a base fixed to an upper region of the tower, wherein the torque transmission arm is connected at one end region to the non-rotating support and is connected at an opposite end region to the base and wherein the torque transmission arm suspends the field winding over the base and at least one re-condenser mounted at a higher elevation than the field winding. 8. A generator for a wind turbine as in claim 7 wherein the generator is mounted on top of a tower. 9. A generator for a wind turbine as in claim 7 wherein the coil magnets are arranged in an annular array of racetrack shaped superconducting coil magnets. 10. The generator in claim 7 wherein the field winding is radially inward of the armature. 11. A generator for a wind turbine comprising: an annular armature driven directly by a wind turbine and rotating with a rotating component of the wind turbine; an annular field winding coaxial with the armature and separated by a gap from an inside surface of the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets; at least one re-condenser mounted at a higher elevation than the field winding, and an insulating annular housing for the field winding, wherein the housing is mounted by a torque tube to a base. 12. A generator for a wind turbine as in claim 11 further comprising insulated conduits for a cooling fluid for the coil magnets extending through the insulating housing and upward to a re-condenser mounted above the field winding. 13. A generator for a wind turbine comprising: an annular armature driven directly by a wind turbine and rotating with a rotating component of the wind turbine; an annular field winding coaxial with the armature and separated by a gap from an inside surface of the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets; at least one re-condenser mounted at a higher elevation than the field winding, and an insulating housing for the field winding, an annular chamber suspended by a torque tube in an evacuated interior of the housing, and the chamber containing an annular casing having the field winding and a supply of a circulating cryogen to cool the coil magnets of the field winding. 14. A generator for a wind turbine comprising: an annular armature driven directly by a wind turbine and rotating with a rotating component of the wind turbine; non-rotating annular field winding coaxial with the armature and separated by a gap from an inside surface of the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets; a torque transmission arm supporting a non-rotating support for the field winding on a base fixed to an upper region of the tower, wherein the torque transmission arm has a first end coupled to the field winding and a second end attached to the base and the torque transmission arm suspends the field winding over the base; at least one re-condenser mounted at a higher elevation than the field winding, and a disc rotating with the armature and a brake releasably grasping the disc. 15. The generator of claim 14 wherein the annular field winding is radially inward of the armature. 16. A method for generating electrical power comprising: generating a magnetic field in a non-rotating annular field winding in a generator, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets and the generator is mounted in an upper section of a tower for a wind turbine; applying torque from the wind turbine to rotate an armature of the generator, wherein the armature is coaxial and electromagnetically coupled to the superconducting field winding; generating electrical current in the armature by the rotation of the armature around the stationary field winding; transferring the electrical current from the rotating armature to a power conversion system; cooling the superconducting coil magnets to a superconducting condition using a cooling liquid that is at least partially vaporized as it cools the coils, and condensing the vaporized cooling liquid in a re-condenser elevated above the generator, wherein the condensed cooling liquid flows by gravity to the superconducting coil magnets. 17. A method as in claim 16 further comprising supporting the coil magnets in an insulating housing and supporting the housing with a torque tube. 18. A method as in claim 16 further comprising transmitting torque applied by a blade of the wind turbine to the armature through an electromagnetic coupling between the armature and field winding and from the winding to the tower. 19. A method as in claim 16 further comprising supporting the coil magnets in annular casing and cooling the coil magnets with liquid helium flowing through the casing. 20. A method as in claim 19 further comprising insulating the casing by suspending the casing in a hollow chamber and suspending the chamber in an evacuated housing. 21. A generator comprising: an annular armature; an annular field winding coaxial with the armature and separated by a gap from an inside surface of the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets; wherein one of the annular armature and the annular field winding rotates and is connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine; a stationary support connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine, and wherein another one of the annular armature and the annular field winding is stationary and is supported by a torque transmission arm to the stationary support, wherein the torque transmission arm has a first end coupled to the annular field winding and a second arm coupled to the stationary support and the torque transmission arm suspends the field winding adjacent to the stationary support. 22. A generator as in claim 21 wherein the armature is connectable to rotate with at least one blade of the wind turbine, and the annular field winding is stationary and connected to the stationary support. 23. A generator comprising: an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine; a non-rotating annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets seated in a cylindrical casing coaxial to the armature such that each superconducting coil magnet is at a uniform radial distance from a rotating axis of the rotating component, and further wherein the annular field winding, gap and armature are aligned radially with respect to the rotating axis, and a non-rotating support for the field winding and connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine. 24. A generator comprising: an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine mounted on a tower; a non-rotating annular field winding coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the field winding includes superconducting coil magnets; a non-rotating support for the field winding; a fixed support having a first connection to the non-rotating support for the field winding and a second connection to a base fixed to an upper region of the tower, wherein the fixed support suspends the field winding in a fixed position over the base, and further wherein the fixed support includes a torque transmission arm and, at least one re-condenser mounted above the array of field windings. 25. A generator comprising: an annular armature connectable to rotate with a rotating component of a wind turbine mounted on a tower; a non-rotating annular array of field windings coaxial to the armature and separated by a gap from the armature, wherein the array of field windings includes superconducting coil magnets; a non-rotating support for the array of field windings, wherein a first torque transmission support couples the array of field windings to the non-rotating support; a second torque transmission support suspends the non-rotating support over a base fixed to an upper region of the tower, and at least one re-condenser mounted above the array of field windings.