HTS Coils Optimization for Application in a Linear Generator for Maritime Applications

Motors or linear generators have traditionally been built with winding layers and with an equal number of turns in each said layer; generally, the level of energy per layer and the voltage generated in each of them decreases as the magnetic field decreases. This is considered acceptable according to the criteria of the convectional design of the windings. This paper describes a criterion for the optimization of linear electric generator windings made with BSCCO 2223 high temperature superconducting tapes. The optimization is done requiring that the generated voltage level be uniform across the layers, and magnetic energy not changed considering the total energy in coil and taking into account the characteristics of the superconducting materials. The configuration was optimized through the use of a finite-element method program, taking into account the B-I characteristic of the superconducting material and the incidence of the magnetic field on its surface. The optimization method and experimental verification are reported using BSCCO 2223 superconducting tapes.