This paper describes the design and performance of a 10kW partially superconducting homopolar dc generator with an ambient temperature rotor on the Faraday disc principle and with the field supplied by a stationary superconducting coil. This configuration of machine could, in very large ratings, compete with conventional machines.
A simple solenoid field coil is wound with a fully stabilized Nb-Ti composite wire and produces a central field of 40kG. The inner dia., outer dia., and length of the coil are 21.5, 34, and 25cm, respectively.
The disc type rotor consists of 8 copper discs of 13cm diameter connected electrically in series by the inner and outer brushes and its overall length is 50cm.
The maximum output power of the generator was obtained 10V-1, 000A-10kW and the current density of a brush was up to 100A/cm
2, which was five times as high as that of conventional machines.
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