Apr 20 2007
American Superconductor Corporation, a leading energy technologies company, announced today that two of its South Korean customers - Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. (Doosan) and the Korean Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) - have utilized AMSC's proprietary high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire to successfully develop and demonstrate a very compact, high-efficiency superconductor motor for civilian and military applications. This news follows the announcement three weeks ago that AMSC had successfully completed factory acceptance testing of its own 36.5 MW (49,000 horsepower) HTS ship propulsion motor for the U.S. Navy.
The motor produced by Doosan and KERI utilizes approximately 5,000 meters of AMSC's HTS wire and is capable of generating 1,300 horsepower at 3,600 revolutions per minute. The system is significantly smaller, lighter, quieter and more efficient than the traditional motors sold today of the same power rating, which are made with copper coils.
Work on this motor program began in 2004 with the help of government research and development funding. Doosan plans to begin production of motors for the military and commercial markets in the 2010-2011 timeframe. AMSC estimates that the annual worldwide market for industrial motors with ratings of 1,000 horsepower or higher is over $1 billion.
"This latest news from our South Korean customers is further evidence of the compelling advantages that HTS provides for electrical equipment and the global interest in bringing products of this kind to market," said Greg Yurek, founder and chief executive officer of AMSC.
"HTS rotating machines are now entering the manufacturing phase, creating significant opportunities for AMSC's superconducting wire and coils. We congratulate Doosan and KERI on their achievement and look forward to working with both organizations on motor programs and additional projects in the years ahead."
AMSC has an ongoing relationship with Doosan Heavy Industries in both the HTS and wind power arenas. In January, AMSC announced that it had signed a contract worth more than $2 million to develop a 3 MW wind energy system for Doosan and support the assembly and installation of a system prototype. Doosan plans to begin series production of these systems late in 2009.
In October 2006, AMSC announced that it had received an order from KERI for 22,000 additional meters of HTS wire to begin a 10-year project focused on developing superconductor magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems. This project is being funded by South Korea's Ministry of Science and Technology.