HTS Ship Propulsion Motors - The Next Step in Marine Propulsion

Marine propulsion has been built on a heritage of technical innovation.  This tradition continues with HTS motors and generators. Click here to see animation on how AMSC is revolutionizing electric marine propulsion with superconductor technology. 

Watch HTS ship propulsion animation in Quicktime or Windows Media Player

 Watch HTS podded ship propulsion animation in Quicktime or Windows Media Player

 

Benefits of HTS Ship Propulsion Motors

  • 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.
     

    Data sheet for propulsion motors for commercial vessels.

36.5 MW HTS Ship Propulsion Motor 

The U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) has provided AMSC with more than $90 million to design and build the world's first 36.5 MW (49,000 horsepower) HTS motor. On January, 13, 2009 American Superconductor Corporation and Northrop Grumman Corporation announced at the Surface Navy Association's 21st National Symposium the successful completion of full-power testing of the world's first 36.5 megawatt (49,000 horsepower) high temperature superconductor (HTS) ship propulsion motor at the U.S. Navy's Integrated Power System Land-Based Test Site in Philadelphia. This is the first successful full-power test of an electric propulsion motor sized for a large Navy combatant and, at 36.5 megawatts, doubled the Navy's power rating test record.

To read more, click here.

Click here to play the video of the motor testing.
Click here to read about the 5 MW HTS Ship Propulsion Motor also designed by AMSC, but jointly with Alstom.
 

Left is an illustration of a conventional copper ship propulsion motor and right is a photo of the HTS 36.5 MW ship propulsion motor completed by AMSC and Northrop Grumman.


  

 

Events

23-24 March - China New Energy Congress 2010
AMSC Attending

23-25 March - DistribuTECH 2010 (AKA Utility Products Conference & Exhibition)
AMSC Exhibiting Booth # 322

More Events »

About Us

AMSC offers an array of proprietary technologies and solutions spanning the electric power infrastructure – from generation to delivery to end use. The company is a leader in alternative energy, providing proven, megawatt-scale wind turbine designs and electrical control systems.

More About Us »