Articles

Sea Technology
"Superconductor Motors for High-Speed Ship Propulsion"

Technological advancement is driving more cost effective and efficient applications and procedures in businesses throughout the world. In the marine industry, a broad range of innovative technologies are being explored for commercial and military applications.
One of the fastest-moving changes affecting the marine industry is the conversion to electric ship propulsion.


IEEE Spectrum
"Super Conductors on the High Seas"

Two current Office of Naval Research (ONR) programs illustrate how a marine propulsion system that utilizes high temperature superconductor (HTS) based electric motors can offer remarkable benefits when compared with conventional electric propulsion solutions. These system benefits include reduced size and weight, increased electrical efficiency, and reduced noise, all of which will enable future merchant and naval ships to be designed with much greater flexibility than conventional propulsion systems can offer. In the first ONR program, a 5MW, 230 rpm motor was designed, fabricated, tested and delivered to the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) at Florida State University.  At CAPS the 5MW motor is undergoing extensive land-based testing. The second ONR program for the development and fabrication of a 36.5 MW, 120 rpm motor is now in the detail design phase and is scheduled for completion and delivery to the U. S. Navy in March 2006. Together, these two programs are clearly demonstrating the capabilities and advantages of HTS motors relative to conventional propulsion motors of the same power and torque ratings.


Maritime Reporter
"Optimal Electric Ship Propulsion Solution"

An HTS ship propulsion system places the shipbuilder under far fewer restrictions than conventional power technology when designing the ship best suited for its intended purpose.  From this high-level view, it appears that HTS-based propulsion systems are the next generational improvement in marine propulsion systems. Naval architects can now begin to translate these propulsion system improvements into increased profitability for ship owners and operators.