Liquid nitrogen cooled HTS motor for ship propulsion

A pod propulsion system has been receiving attention as a measure to satisfy the Kyoto Protocol, which was activated in February 2005. A high-temperature superconducting motor is thought to maximize the merit of the pod propulsion system. Sumitomo Electric, University of Fukui, IHI and other organizations have developed the world´s first liquid nitrogen cooled high-temperature superconducting motor for the pod propulsion system. The employed axial gap motor structure is explained by comparing the conventional radial gap motor. The merits of the axial gap motor using high-temperature superconductor are explained. Merits of iron core installation also explained. Two prototype motors have been manufactured and demonstrated. These motor employs commercialized bismuth based superconductor, which is supplied by Sumitomo Electric. A 400 kW motor production is planned and a prototype copper motor has been manufactured and tested. The results show good agreement with the simulation