AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR’s high temperature superconductor (HTS) ship propulsion motors are power dense, acoustically quiet, highly reliable, highly efficient electric propulsion motors designed to deliver exceptional durability and efficiency in a wide range of commercial marine and naval propulsion applications. They are a new generation of AC synchronous machines with significant advantages over other motor technologies including conventional AC synchronous and induction machines.

• 5 MW HTS motor during test

Less weight, same output. AMSC’s HTS ship propulsion systems are, on average, as little as 20% to 35% the weight of conventional synchronous motors of equal torque while consuming less fuel. Consequently, they enable ship designers to deliver larger payloads over longer distances at greater speeds.

Smaller size, greater power density. Because AMSC’s HTS wires conduct more than 140 times the current of conventional copper wires of the same dimensions, rotor coils for motors or generators made with HTS wire instead of copper wire, results in machines that are substantially smaller and lighter than their conventional counterparts — delivering two to three times more power per unit weight and volume than machines that utilize conventional copper wire.

Higher efficiency. HTS wire used in rotor field windings conducts electricity with little or no energy loss. Consequently, HTS motors can be operated at three to four times higher efficiency at partial loads than conventional AC synchronous ship propulsion motors — achieving efficiencies as high as 98% between 15% and 30% of full load. This benefit results in a significant reduction in fuel-related operating costs over the duration of the vessel’s life amounting to many times the initial cost of the motor. The design flexibility inherent in HTS field windings enables AMSC’s HTS ship propulsion systems to be highly configurable to each ship’s mission and operating profile. Systems are easily optimized for both in-hull and out-of-hull pod applications.

Great durability/long life. The wires and coils used in HTS ship propulsion systems have been proven in rigorous mechanical and thermal testing.

• An illustration of the difference in size/footprint of the 36.5 MW HTS motor

Latest news from AMSC: American Superconductor Corporation has announced that it has finalized a contract amendment with the United States Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR). Under the terms of the amendment, the ONR has approved a $10 million increase to AMSC’s contract to design and build a 36.5 megawatt (MW) high temperature superconductor (HTS) propulsion motor for electric warships. The amendment adds $10 million to AMSC’s backlog, most of which is expected to be recognized as revenue in the Company’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2006. AMSC also expects an additional contract modification to be completed by ONR within the next few months, which will increase AMSC’s backlog by an additional $7 million to $10 million. AMSC expects to deliver the 36.5MW motor to the Navy test facility in Philadelphia in September 2006. [More at on this contract amendment at www.irconnect.com/noc/pages/news_releases.mhtml?d=26820

Further information from info@amsuper.com and www.amsuper.com