Superconducting electrical machinery

Recent developments in superconductors have made possible the application of superconductivity in the windings of electric machinery. Extensive studies have been made, and several experimental superconducting machines have been built and tested. In synchronous machines, the higher currents and flux densities in a superconducting field winding offer savings in size, weight, and cost. In homopolar machines, the greater flux densities make possible higher terminal voltages. This, with the development of liquid-metal current collection, makes homopolar machines a feasible alternative to conventional dc machines for high-power applications.