A homopolar motor for the demonstration of new high current brushes

Abstract

Recent research has demonstrated that very high currents can be transferred efficiently across sliding electrical contacts under laboratory conditions. Further effort is required to apply these research concepts to practical machine designs and to determine their impact on such important machine parameters as power density, efficiency and operating life. Toward this objective, a high technology 50 h.p. homopolar motor was designed and built. It incorporates novel high current metal fiber brushes and water-cooled components in a configuration that has been optimized for maximum power density. The machine provides a wide range of possible speeds and current levels for brush testing in a controlled environment and may operate as either a motor or a generator. Initial testing will be performed with copper fiber brushes, although other brush materials and configurations may also be evaluated.