Navy Tests New Superconducting Motor

Bill Schweber, EDN magazine -- Design News, September 26, 2005

A 5-MW motor using HTS (high-temperature-superconducting) wire and magnets has passed load- and ship-mission-testing protocols. American Superconductor designed the motor under an Office of Naval Research contract as an interim step toward a 36-MW, 49,000-hp, 120-rpm unit under development for ship propulsion. The goal is a propulsion system that has one-third the weight and one-half the size of conventional copper-based motors of the same rating.

The 5-MW motor underwent static and dynamic tests at the Center for Advanced Power Systems at Florida State University (Tallahassee). Alstom Power Conversion's (www.powerconv.alstom.com) Rugby, UK, facility designed, built, and conducted further tests on the stator- and marine-drive electronics. In the static tests, the motor ran at full load and speed, 230 rpm, for 21 hours; resultant temperature and performance data agreed with design predictions. In the dynamic test, the test station imposed load variations of 0.5 to 10 percent around moderate- and full-power operating points. Testing also used hardware-in-the-loop simulation to control the motor and emulate complete propulsion-system operation.

For more information, visit American Superconductor's website at http://rbi.ims.ca/4397-575

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