American Superconductor Corp and Rockwell Automation have developed a 1000 hp (746 kW) motor using high temperature superconductors (HTS).
Industry experts estimate that the current annual global market for industrial motors of at least 746 kW is around $1 billion. The market for electric generators over 30 MWe, which involve the same fundamental technology, is some $2 billion per year.
“Our HTS wires not only operate with higher electrical efficiency, they are able to carry more than 100 times the power of copper wires with the same dimensions.”, said Greg Yurek, chief executive of American Superconductor. Higher power densities of HTS wires may reduce manufacturing costs by 25 to 40 per cent, the company claims.
American Superconductor expects to have its first 3730 kW HTS motor ready for testing in the Spring of 2001.
