General Electric Company
Partial cryogenic shielding assembly in a superconducting generator and methods of assembling the same

Abstract:

An annular field of a superconducting generator includes a partial cryogenic shielding assembly and a superconducting field winding surrounded by a thermal shield. The thermal shield is surrounded by a housing defining an insulating vacuum enclosure. The annular field includes a torque tube assembly disposed within the housing and coupling the thermal shield to the housing. A blanket of multi-layer thermal insulation is disposed within the vacuum enclosure, extending generally between the housing and the thermal shield. The annular field further includes a partial cryogenic shielding assembly including a floating shield disposed within the vacuum enclosure, between the housing and the thermal shield. The floating shield extends only a portion of an overall length of the housing. The floating shield includes an insulative stack of multi-layer thermal insulation. A superconducting generator and a wind turbine utilizing the superconducting generator with improved partial shielding are disclosed.