Northrop to design lighter HTS

A Northrop Grumman Corporation led team has been selected by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to begin a design of a 40 MW high-temperature superconductor (HTS) generator intended to provide a smaller, lighter and quieter main power source for future United States Navy surface combatants.

Under this initial nine-month contract, Northrop Grumman Marine Systems, teamed with American Superconductor Corporation, will complete a concept design and explore different configurations of the HTS generator while assessing the impact on generator characteristics associated with voltage, phase-count, pole-count and cooling selection. The Navy has an option to exercise an additional 3-year contract worth $3.9 million to continue the trade studies that will help evaluate differences from conventional generator designs while validating weight, size, acoustic performance and cost for a 40 MW HTS generator.

“HTS technology is attracting strong attention for a broad range of military and commercial applications,” said Greg Yurek, CEO of American Superconductor. “In addition to future U.S. Navy generators, HTS wire is currently powering ship propulsion motors, electric grid power cables, synchronous condensers and specialty magnets. We value the opportunity to work once more with our strategic alliance partner, Northrop Grumman, in developing a key component of the Navy’s integrated power systems for its future all-electric ships.”