HTS - The Future of Navy Motors - high temperature superconductor

kach22i · Apr 2, 2007

HTS - The Future of Navy Motors - high temperature superconductor
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/cat_ships_and_subs.html

American Superconductor Corporation recently announced the successful completion of factory acceptance testing for the world's first 36.5 megawatt (49,000 horsepower) high temperature superconductor (HTS) ship propulsion motor at Northrop Grumman's facility at the Philadelphia Naval Business Center. This is the final milestone before the Navy takes possession of the motor.

The motor was designed, developed and manufactured under a contract from the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) to demonstrate the efficacy of HTS primary- propulsion-motor technology for future Navy all-electric ships and submarines. The power and torque of this HTS motor is comparable to the requirements for the Navy's new Zumwalt class of destroyers, known as DDG 1000. In comparison with the conventional copper motors being used on the first two DDG 1000 hulls,the HTS motor is less than one-half the size and weight, and is more efficient over a much wider range of ship speeds. This results in weight and space advantages, enabling an increase in payload capacity for both naval and commercial vessels.

Why HTS?

High Power Density: The HTS field winding produces magnetic fields higher than those of conventional machines resulting in smaller size and weight.

High Partial Load Efficiency: HTS motors have higher efficiency at part load (down to 5% of full speed), that results in savings in fuel use and operating cost. The advantage in efficiency can be over 10% at low speed.

Low Noise: HTS motors have lower sound emissions than conventional machines.

Low Synchronous Reactance: HTS air-core motors are characterized by a low synchronous reactance which results in operation at very small load angles. Operating at a small load angle provides greater stiffness during the transient and hunting oscillations.

Harmonics: HTS motors generate voltages free of harmonics.

Cyclic load insensitivity: HTS motor field windings operate at nearly constant temperature unlike conventional motors and, therefore, are not subject to thermal fatigue.

Maintenance: HTS motors compared to conventional motors will not require the common rotor overhaul, rewinding or re-insulation.

(Source: American Superconductor)
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How long before we see some trickle down tech into other industries?

This illustration is something.

Benefits of HTS over alternative ship propulsion motors
http://www.amsuper.com/products/motorsGenerators/shipPropulsion.cfm

Left is an illustration of a conventional copper 36.5 MW ship propulsion motor and on the right is the HTS 36.5 MW ship propulsion motor

stonebreaker · Apr 2, 2007

What are they cooling it with? Liquid nitrogen?

kach22i · Apr 2, 2007

stonebreaker said: ↑

What are they cooling it with? Liquid nitrogen?
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Sounds like it.

http://www.amsuper.com/products/motorsGenerators/marineGenerators.cfm

The cryogenic cooling system power consumption is less than a few percent of the total losses in the machine.
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Tim B · Apr 2, 2007

So by "High Temperature Superconductor" they actually mean some wire in a big fridge.

It is interesting though.

Tim B.

kach22i · Apr 2, 2007

Tim B said: ↑

So by "High Temperature Superconductor" they actually mean some wire in a big fridge.

It is interesting though.

Tim B.
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The "Wire" is what makes the motor works the way it does, so it must of came first.

High Temperature Superconductor wire
http://www.amsuper.com/products/htsWire/index.cfm

The HTS wires AMSC manufactures today conduct over 150 times the electrical current of copper wire of the same dimensions, which dramatically reduces the size and weight of electrical equipment and significantly increases the power throughput of power cables. These characteristics offer product developers the ability to design components with HTS wire -- such as coils for industrial motors or generators -- that deliver much higher power density and can offer additional benefits such as reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs.
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FAST FRED · Apr 2, 2007

In the "old days" there was a delay in getting underway as the steam boilers were brought up.

Now we have the delay to get the electric motor temperatures down!

The more things change ,,,,

FF

stonebreaker · Apr 2, 2007

It takes six hours to get a steam boiler up to power. I wonder how long it takes to get the motor cool?

marshmat · Apr 2, 2007

From a complete, long-term shutdown it takes a while to get a cryogenic system going again. If these guys know anything at all, though, the motor will be very well insulated and should tend to hold its low temperature fairly well on shutdown. I imagine it will take more testing before they know how it will respond in real-world situations, but I don't think power-up time from a cold (warm?) start should be any worse than cold-starting a typical modern ship's main diesel power plant.

mjbtx · Oct 1, 2007

Be cool once it trickles down into consumer marine products

charmc · Oct 1, 2007

They do use liquid nitrogen as coolant.

They claim to be close to commercial marine applications. If the same power density ratios hold up (equal power from a motor and/or generator with only 40 - 50 % of the mass of a copper wound motor or generator), that would be pretty cool.

kach22i · Oct 2, 2007

It's strange that they are going into wind generators, right?

I mean the size reduction and weight loss would benifit mobile and not stationary applications foremost, right?

Link to news press release page:
http://www.amsuper.com/newsEvents/index.cfm

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HTS - The Future of Navy Motors - high temperature superconductor

kach22i Architect

stonebreaker Senior Member

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