A Comparison of Cryogenic-Cooled and Superconducting Electrical Machines
Marco Biasion, Filipa Fernandes, P.J. Costa Branco, Silvio Vaschetto, Andrea Cavagnino, Alberto Tenconi
Abstract
This paper compares the steady-state operation of air-cooled, cryogenic-cooled and superconducting induction machines. The aim is to investigate the impact of a very low temperature and the influence of a superconducting rotor cage on the performances of standard designed, air-cooled machines. The research work includes a review of the state of the art of cryogenic-cooled and superconducting induction machines for various applications. The performances of the machines are assessed analytically by solving the single-phase equivalent circuit and considering the influence of the temperature, the skin-effect and the nonlinear behavior of superconductors. The analytical results are validated by experiments on a fractional kilowatt induction motor. The experimental activities include the characterization of the core losses at cryogenic temperature.