SUPERCONDUCTING ROTATING MACHINES

ByADITYA NANDAN 0909120009

Date: 28-03-2012

CONTENTS

Introduction High Temperature Superconducting Wire HTS Machines Advantages & Disadvantages Benefits HTS Machine Application Future Enhancements Conclusion References

INTRODUCTION

The higher current density achievable in many superconducting materials tends to make them smaller compared with nonsuperconducting machines with the same power density. These machines employed LTS wire made up of a niobium-titanium (NbTi) alloy. High-temperature superconductors become superconducting at more easily obtainable liquid nitrogen temperatures. HTS-based motors and generators will be smaller, lighter, more efficient, and less expensive to manufacture and operate than conventional machines.

HTS WIRE STATUS

High temperature superconductor bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide (BSCCO-2223) manufactured commercially by American superconductor (AMSC).

It is able to carry more than 140times the electrical current of copper wire of the same cross section, and is robust enough to meet commercial requirements
However, a newer yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) superconductor has been developed . HTS Wire

COMPARISON OF BSCCO WIRE AND YBCO WIRE

Property BSCCO (now) YBCO (now) YBCO (near term)

Cost( Relative) 16-20 Operating Temp Current Density 22 - 35 K 7 17 kA/cm2

50-100 45 - 55 K 8 29 kA/cm2

3-5 60 70 K 15 50 kA/cm2

Tensile Strain Length

0.10 - 0.40% Up to 1.5 km

0.30 - 0.45% Up to 600 m

0.30 - 0.60% 1 1.5 km

Where, (Relative) based on $/kA-m.

HTS MACHINES

The major components of a rotating machine employing HTS winding Only the field winding employs HTS cooled with a cryocooler subsystem to about 35-40K The cryocooler modules are located in a stationary frame and a gas, such as helium, is employed to cool components on the rotor.

Air-Core Machine

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages:

Reduced resistive losses but only in the rotor electromagnet. Reduced size and weight per power capacity without considering the refrigeration equipment.

Disadvantages:

The cost, size, weight and complications of the cooling system.

Motor bearings need to be able to withstand cold or need to be insulated from the cold rotor.

BENEFITS OF USING SUPERCONDUCTING MACHINES

Lower operating costs

Less vibration and noise

Smaller size and weight

Increased stability

Rotating armature of the motor

HTS MACHINE APPLICATION

HTS alternating current (AC) synchronous motors provide a very attractive alternative: Greater than 98% efficiency across a wide range of ship operating profiles, which can lower fuel consumption and ship operating costs

Inherently quiet with low weight rotors, no iron teeth.

Market Potential : Electric marine propulsion is a market of approximately $250 million that is growing strongly .

Ship Electrical System component

FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS

New technology in the form of a litz-wire bar This could contribute to an overall performance improvement, especially in efficiency (expected 0.1...0.3%). Litz wire made out of many thinner isolated Superconducting wires. Litz wire is more concentrated for high frequency applications where the skin effect is more pronounced.

LITZ-Wire Bar

CONCLUSION

Todays motors are fundamentally similar to the electric motors designed over a century ago. The motor manufacturing industry has seen only incremental improvement in product design over the past years.

The advent of high temperature superconductivity has created the opportunity in the technology of motors.
The cost, size, weight and efficiency benefits of superconducting machines will significantly change the dynamics of the motor manufacturing industry and the motor user market .

REFERENCES

S. S. Kalsi, Development status of superconducting rotating machines, presented at the IEEE PES Meeting New York, Jan. 27 31, 2002 Testing of a Superconducting Rotating Machine, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, Vol. 17, No. 1, March 2007. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/superconducting_electric_machine