Progress on high temperature superconductor propulsion motors and direct drive wind generators

Second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire is a revolutionary technology that enables the development of high power and high torque rotating machines with broad applications. The development of synchronous motors with first generation (1G) HTS field windings for ship propulsion applications has progressed to the point where full scale motors have been fabricated and full load tested. Additionally, a significant effort to develop direct drive generators for wind energy converters (WECs) is in progress. A conceptual generator design, refrigeration hardware, and prototype 2G HTS field winding poles have been completed to validate the technologies for a 10 MW direct drive WEC. Propulsion motors, WECs and other industrial applications utilizing rotors with HTS fielding windings are discussed. A market entry point for the direct drive WEC system is presented.