Advances in generator technology

[Qacer]

Hey all,

I'm curious if anyone has any info regarding advances in generator technologies. I'm specifically interested in new technologies that can increase power effeciency, decrease size & weight, and decrease fuel consumption while maintaining a nominal power output.

Thanks!

 

[Mark R]

Have you looked at some of the work done with superconducting generators? Such machines are expected to have higher efficiency (99% compared to 98.5%), reduced size and weight (up to 30% less) and reduced fuel consumption, while having improved overload and reactive power handling.

I believe that there is a power plant in Japan, fitted with a prototype superconducting generator, and several big companies/research labs are currently researching the technology.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Mark's right that superconductors can improve the efficiencies of generators, transformers, and power lines; but the room for improvement is pretty small given that they are highly efficient already. I think that there's much more room for improvement in the so-called "prime mover" that turns the generator. The efficiencies of steam (or gas or water or wind) turbines and the combustion processes involved are all much lower.