Superconducting electric machines are electromechanical systems that rely on the use of one or more superconducting elements. Since superconductors have no DC resistance, they typically have greater efficiency. The most important parameter that is of utmost interest in superconducting machine is the generation of a very high magnetic field that is not possible in a conventional machine. This leads to a substantial decrease in the motor volume; which means a great increase in the power density. However, since superconductors only have zero resistance under a certain superconducting transition temperature, T_c that is hundreds of degrees lower than room temperature, cryogenics are required.

History

DC homopolar machines are among the oldest electric machines. Michael Faraday made a Homopolar motor in 1831. Superconducting DC homopolar machines use superconductors in their stationary field windings and normal conductors in their rotating pickup winding. In 2005 the General Atomics company received a contract for the creation of a large low speed superconducting homopolar motor for ship propulsion.^[1] Superconducting homopolar generators have been considered as pulsed power sources for laser weapon systems. However, homopolar machines have not been practical for most applications.

In the past, experimental AC synchronous superconducting machines were made with rotors using low-temperature metal superconductors that exhibit superconductivity when cooled with liquid helium. These worked, however the high cost of liquid helium cooling made them too expensive for most applications.

More recently AC synchronous superconducting machines have been made with ceramic rotor conductors that exhibit high-temperature superconductivity. These have liquid nitrogen cooled ceramic superconductors in their rotors. The ceramic superconductors are also called high-temperature or liquid-nitrogen-temperature superconductors. Because liquid nitrogen is relatively inexpensive and easier to handle, there is a greater interest in the ceramic superconductor machines than the liquid helium cooled metal superconductor machines.

Present interest

Present interest in AC synchronous ceramic superconducting machines is in larger machines like the generators used in utility and ship power plants and the motors used in ship propulsion. American Superconductor and Northrop Grumman created and demonstrated a 36.5 MW ceramic superconductor ship propulsion motor.

Because they are light-weight and therefore offer lower tower and construction costs they are seen as a promising generator technology for wind turbines. With super conducting generators the weight and volume of generators could be reduced compared to direct drive synchronous generators, which could lead to lower costs of the whole turbine.^[2] First commercial turbines were expected to be installed approximately in 2020.^[3]

Advantages and disadvantages of superconducting electric machines

Compared with a conventional conductor machine

Superconducting electric machines typically have the following advantages:

1. Reduced resistive losses but only in the rotor electromagnet.
2. Reduced size and weight per power capacity without considering the refrigeration equipment.

There are also the following disadvantages:

1. The cost, size, weight, and complications of the cooling system.
2. A sudden decrease or elimination of motor or generator action if the superconductors leave their superconductive state.
3. A greater tendency for rotor speed instability. A superconducting rotor does not have the inherent damping of a conventional rotor. Its speed may hunt or oscillate around its synchronous speed.
4. Motor bearings need to be able to withstand cold or need to be insulated from the cold rotor.
5. As a synchronous motor, electronic control is essential for practical operation. Electronic control introduces expensive harmonic loss in the supercooled rotor electromagnet.

High-temperature superconductors versus Low-temperature superconductors

1. High-temperature superconductors (HTS) become superconducting at more easily obtainable liquid nitrogen temperatures, which is much more economical than liquid helium that is typically used in low-temperature superconductors.
2. HTS are ceramics, and are fragile relative to conventional metal alloy superconductors such as niobium-titanium.
3. Ceramic superconductors cannot be bolted or welded together to form superconducting junctions. Ceramic superconductors must be cast in their final shape when created. This may increase production costs.^{[citation needed]}
4. Ceramic superconductors can be more easily driven out of superconductivity by oscillating magnetic fields. This could be a problem during transient conditions, as during a sudden load or supply change.^{[citation needed]}