High Temperature Superconducting Synchronous Motors: Economic Issues for Industrial Applications

High temperature superconducting materials offer the capability to reduce losses in large industrial motors (greater than 1000 horsepower in rating) by 50%. This loss reduction can be accompanied by an overall motor size reduction. The application of high temperature superconductors in high horsepower electric motors is described and the potential benefits of these motors are discussed. The economic viability of high temperature superconducting based electric motors for industrial applications depends upon the cost of the superconducting wire. A discussion of wire component costs for readily available first generation high temperature superconducting wire as well as the future, lower cost, second generation high temperature superconducting wire is presented showing that economically viable high temperature superconducting based motors require second generation wire. A review of the state-of-the-art in industrial motor lab prototype demonstrations of high temperature superconducting based motors is presented showing the rapid advancement of this technology. The application advantages of high temperature superconducting motors in pump and fan systems are also discussed