Experimental Study and Simulation of Quench in MgB2 Coils for Wind Generators

Abstract

In the frame of the European Union (EU) founded SUPRAPOWER Project, MgB2 conduction-cooled coils are foreseen to be used in the rotor of synchronous wind turbine generators. As a result, a conceptual design of a 10 MW superconducting (SC) generator will be made and a Rotating Magnetic Validator (RMV) will be constructed and tested, with two rotating SC coils. The main dimensions and working conditions will be kept in the RMV and in the 10 MW generator. The RMV has been conceived is such a way that it can be transformed in a generator. Numerical quench simulations have to be performed in order to design a suitable quench protection system. Due to the uncertainty of some material properties and its importance for the machine operation, an experimental validation must be performed in order to resolve discrepancies. Under this premises, a full size MgB2 double pancake coil have been manufactured and instrumented to trigger a controlled quench.