HTS ship propulsion motors

Abstract

In many modern ships, propulsion systems are so large and heavy that they force the rest of the ship to be constructed around them. Large ship propulsion motors could be made more compact and lighter by application of high temperature superconductor (HTS) technology, thus providing relief from this constraint. HTS ship propulsion motors are more compact, lighter weight, more efficient, quieter (lower in acoustic and structureborne noise) and more cost-efficient (both at acquisition and in operation) than conventional motors. American superconductor built, factory tested and delivered a 5 MW, 230-RPM ship propulsion motor to the U.S. Navy in July 2003. This was a prototype for a 36.5 MW ship propulsion motor that is currently being designed and built by American superconductor for delivery in 2006. HTS motor technology is maturing rapidly and both naval and marine ship drive applications are expected to benefit greatly from these advances. This paper presents the status of HTS ship propulsion motor and rotating development, their unique characteristics and near-term outlook for further HTS machine development