Design and Comparative Analysis of MgB2 and YBCO Wire-Based-Superconducting Wind Power Generators

This paper presented a comparison study result on the design of direct-driven-type-superconducting wind power generators using MgB2and YBCO wires. Detailed features of MgB2and YBCO wires were investigated and 4-MW superconducting generators were designed using MgB2and YBCO wires. The magnetic field distributions of the generators were analysed using a 3-D finite-element method program. The total length of the wires, the volume, and weight of the designed generators were compared. As a result, the weight and volume of the generator using the YBCO wire were lighter and smaller than the generator using the MgB2wire. The required length of the MgB2was shorter than the YBCO wire which is much more expensive than MgB2wire. It is therefore necessary to select the appropriate superconducting wires considering cost, weight, and volume issues when designing superconducting generators.