Three-dimensional design applied to a Double-Helix(TM) wound superconducting synchronous condenser

This dissertation addresses the three-dimensional design of an iron-free superconducting synchronous condenser employing Double-Helix(TM) windings and presents a new concept for a superconducting excitation system for the field winding of the machine. The excitation system is based on the high temperature superconductor magnesium diboride and first experimental results on magnetic switching are presented.;The dissertation introduces three-dimensional tools and semi-analytical methods developed for the design of high power synchronous machines. The design of machines employing Double-Helix(TM) winding configurations demands a different approach than is conventionally used, due to the fundamental change in the configuration of the field winding. Entire geometries of all windings in the machine, including transitions to layers and all interconnections, are considered in the software developed for analysis of the inductance and output of the machine. The software developed is not limited to the Double-Helix(TM) winding configurations but can also be applied to designing machines using the conventional saddle and race-track configurations. The developed software is applied to the design of an 8 MVAR superconducting synchronous condenser.;A novel HTS flux pump transformer has been proposed which is expected to induce lower heat loads on the overall superconducting system and also allows for higher rotor current applications. Magnetically operated MgB 2 switches have been suggested for the rectification process of the flux pump and initial experiments have been performed on the magnetic switching performance of MgB2.