A Cryogenic Refrigeration System for Superconducting Generators

Superconducting rotating machinery has been proposed as a means of achieving greater efficiency in electrical power generation and utilization. Furthermore, superconducting generators and motors have the potential to be more compact thereby increasing the flexibility of system designs as well as potentially reducing manufacturing costs. However, commercialization of this technology is gated by the availability of affordable, reliable cooling systems needed to maintain the superconductor at low temperatures. Energen, Inc. proposes to design and demonstrate a Stirling cycle cryocooler that can be shaft-mounted to provide cooling to the rotating field windings of synchronous generators and motors. The single-stage cryocooler will provide 10 W cooling capacity at 77 K and use many off-the-shelf components to maintain affordability.