Homopolar machines were the first continuously running electromechanical converters ever demonstrated but engineering challenges and the rapid development of AC technology prevented wider commercialisation. Recent developments in superconducting, cryogenic and sliding contact technology together with new areas of application have led to a renewed interest in homopolar machines. Some of the advantages of these machines are ripple free constant torque, pure DC operation, high power-to-weight ratio and that rotating magnets or coils are not required. In this paper we present our unique approach to high power and high torque homopolar electromagnetic turbines using specially designed high field superconducting magnets and liquid metal current collectors. The unique arrangement of the superconducting coils delivers a high static drive field as well as effective shielding for the field critical sliding contacts. The novel use of additional shielding coils reduces weight and stray field of the system. Liquid metal current collectors deliver a low resistance, stable and low maintenance sliding contact by using a thin liquid metal layer that fills a circular channel formed by the moving edge of a rotor and surrounded by a conforming stationary channel of the stator. Both technologies are critical to constructing high performance machines. Homopolar machines are pure DC devices that utilise only DC electric and magnetic fields and have no AC losses in the coils or the supporting structure. Guina Energy Technologies has developed, built and tested different motor and generator concepts over the last few years and has combined its experience to develop a new generation of homopolar electromagnetic turbines. This paper summarises the development process, general design parameters and first test results of our high temperature superconducting test motor.
In this paper we present our latest developments in superconducting motor and generator designs and the results of prototype testing of various machine types. Superconducting technology can be used to increase the magnetic field in conventional machines resulting in higher power, better efficiency and smaller size. However, the superconducting technology is not always compatible with the conventional approaches. We used new approaches to develop high torque motors and generators that can utilize the advantages of high field superconducting technology. Our directed flux hybrid machine concept is based on maximum field enclosure that allows field focusing on the poles with minimum use of iron flux guides. This design results in machines with low stray fields and high output torque. Currently several different proof-of-concept designs are under evaluation and will be presented in this paper. Guina Energy Technologies has also developed, built and tested different electromagnetic turbine motor and generator concepts over the last few years and have combined our experience into a new generation of homopolar electromagnetic turbines.
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