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The generator of the DeepWind Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) concept is reviewed, discussing special challenges, detailing the function specification, briefly presenting the design tool, some results, the proposed construction and aspects of the generator performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DeepWind has attracted scientific attention. This is due to its design simplicity, which will reduce costs for installation, operation and maintenance of a deep sea offshore wind generator system. Using this design offers advantages of alternative ways to manufacture the turbine rotor parts, introduce new materials, a novel way to implement a direct drive, Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG) and bearing technology, and a design that offers a reduced cost of energy. DeepWind uses a generator and bearings module, supported by controlled magnetic bearings technology. However, many technologies implemented in DeepWind are well known from other applications (e.g. Wind Energy, Sub-sea installations, Offshore installations). This paper presents the controlled magnetic bearings proposed for DeepWind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DeepWind is a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) concept, with the turbine rotor mounted on a floating spar buoy with the generator at the bottom up to 300 m below the sea. To control the starting, variable speed and overspeed limitation operation of the VAWT, the only method available is to control the torque and speed of the generator. A four quadrant, three level, neutral point clamped inverter configuration is proposed and the design of this discussed. Various operational features are tested on a small scale laboratory version. Sample test results are given. The challenges of the DeepWind marine application are presented and discussed and some solutions are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]