Design of the Neon-based Cooling System for the 250 kW Fully Superconducting "SupraGenSys" Demonstrator

In the SupraGenSys 2 project, a fully superconducting 250 kW wind generator is being developed and tested under laboratory conditions to demonstrate its feasibility for low-speed, high-torque applications. The results of this investigation are intended to pave the way for the integration of multi-megawatt, direct-drive wind turbines. In a two-phase neon thermosiphon with indirect coil cooling, the heat load is transferred from the individual components to the condenser of the cold heads. The design uses the inclination of the tower head, enabled by the tilt angle, to circulate the coolant, eliminating the need for pumps. Although this approach can be easily implemented for the stator cooling system, it poses significant challenges for the rotor cooling system. This is because the cold heads must remain stationary due to better accessibility for maintenance. In addition, distributing the cooling medium in low-speed applications without pumps is challenging. This cooling concept aims to enable reliable heat transfer in a fully superconducting wind generator, making it practical for use in large-scale wind turbines and overcoming key challenges of system integration.