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High
Temperature
Superconducting Motors
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Research and
Development of High Temperature Superconducting Motors
Technology
is the driving force behind continuous product improvement to better serve
our customers. Reliance(r) has been investigating the use of high temperature
superconducting (HTS) materials in industrial electric motors since 1987. The
goal is to commercialize this technology in order to market large
superconducting AC synchronous motor systems, with ratings above 1000
horsepower, to utility and industrial customers.
Benefits to the
Customers
·
HTS motors will have half the losses of conventional high
efficiency induction motors built today of the same rating.
·
The superconducting motors will be smaller in size than their
conventional counterparts.
·
The HTS motor systems will include an adjustable speed drive in
order to obtain the benefits of increased system efficiency for air and fluid
handling applications.
Potential
Applications
HTS
motors will be ideally suited for any applications where large motors are
required to operate continuously. Potential utility applications include
boiler feed pumps, induced and forced draft fans, and industrial scrubbers.
Potential industrial applications include the process industries (such as
chemicals, pulp/paper, petroleum, coal and textiles) and materials production
industries (such as steel, non–ferrous metals, stone and glass).
Progress
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Reliance Electric has been working to apply the emerging
technology of high temperature superconducting materials to electric motors
with significant achievements. Early work under a contract with the
Electric Power Research Institute tracked HTS wire performance improvements
and resulted in the world’s first synchronous motor. More recent work
withsponsorship under the Department of Energy Superconductivity
Partnership Initiative (SPI) has resulted in the largest HTS motor ever
demonstrated. An industry team, led by Reliance Electric, which includes
American Superconductor Corporation, Sandia National Laboratory, Centerior
Energy Corporation and EPRI, responded to a U.S. Department of Energy
solicitation to develop HTS technologies. In 1994 an award was granted to develop
a 100 horsepower AC synchronous motor utilizing rotating HTS coils cooled
by helium gas. Under this effort a 200 horsepower synchronous motor was
demonstrated.
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Significant
Milestones
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Reliance Electric/EPRI Contract Milestones
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1987
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Project initiated. Design studies to
determine economic feasibility of HTS motor product.
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1990
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First motor demonstration. DC motor with
stationary HTS field winding cooled with liquid nitrogen.
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1993
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World’s first AC synchronous motor
demonstration using HTS coils. Motor output of 2 horsepower with stationary
liquid nitrogen cooled HTS coils.
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1993
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World’s first AC synchronous motor with
rotating HTS field coils demonstrated. Motor output of 5 horsepower with
liquid nitrogen cooled coils.
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Reliance Electric/DOE SPI Award Milestones
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1996
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World’s largest AC synchronous motor
demonstrated with rotating HTS field coils. Motor output of 200 horsepower
with coils cooled by helium gas.
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Rockwell
Automation / Reliance Electric
High Temperature Superconducting
Motor Demonstrations
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The Future
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Reliance Electric and American Superconductor Corporation, with
the assistance of the Department of Energy, EPRI and the utility industry,
are continuing to advance HTS technology toward the development of ultra
efficient large horsepower superconducting motors for utility and
industrial applications. The next step in the advancement of this
technology will be a 1000 horsepower motor system demonstration, which will
include an adjustable speed drive, followed by a 5000 horsepower
precommercial HTS motor system demonstration. This technology will be made
available to benefit our customers in the future after it is fully
developed.
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Reliance is a registered trademark of
Reliance Electric Industrial Company or its subsidiaries.
Document b2776
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Copyright 1997 Rockwell International, Inc.
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