HTS ship propulsion succeeds at full load

American Superconductor Corporation, a leading electricity solutions

company, has announced that its prototype 5-megawatt (MW) High Temperature

Superconductor (HTS) ship propulsion motor has been demonstrated successfully at full load, under steady state operational conditions, at the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) at Florida State University in Tallahassee. The motor was developed under contract with the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval

Research (ONR) to prove the viability of HTS technology for both military and

commercial marine propulsion. After the 5-MW motor completes load and ship

mission profile simulation tests at CAPS, it will undergo additional

performance testing at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in

Philadelphia. The Navy will then define further land-based and at-sea testing

for this motor.

“We continue to be pleased with these new test results on the 5-MW

superconductor motor,” said Rear Admiral Jay Cohen, Chief of Naval Research.

“The HTS ship propulsion motors we have been developing continue to perform

above our expectations and are providing an important new option for future

Navy propulsion systems.”

HTS motors are ultra-compact, measuring as little as one-third the weight

and one-half the size of copper-based motors of the same power and torque

rating, which means Navy ships can carry more fuel and munitions and have more room for crew’s quarters and weapons systems, and commercial ship owners and operators can carry more passengers and cargo. In addition, HTS motors operate with higher fuel efficiency and will have lower maintenance costs than their conventional copper counterparts. These substantial advantages offered by HTS ship propulsion motors are expected to be provided at a cost equivalent to conventional motors of the same power and torque rating.

The Navy marked the occasion with an event at the newly-opened CAPS

facility last week with senior representatives from the U.S. Navy, American

Superconductor, Florida State University, and others in attendance. At the

event, David Paratore, AMSC’s president and chief operating officer said that

momentum is building in the commercialisation process for HTS ship propulsion

motors. “In addition to continuing the demonstration of all technical aspects

of our new HTS motors, we are continuing to strengthen and develop business

relationships with ship builders, ship propulsion integrators and ship owners

and operators to accelerate the adoption of HTS ship propulsion motors for

both commercial and military applications,” he said. “The successful

development of these business relationships is a next crucial step in the

commercialisation of our HTS motor products.”