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Why the 'cold mystery' of superconducting materials is crucial to future motor technology?
With the increasing emphasis on energy efficiency, the application of superconducting materials in motor technology is gaining increasing attention. A superconducting motor is a motor system that utilizes the properties of superconductors to achieve almost zero DC resistance, thereby significantly improving efficiency. However, the "low-temperature mystery" of superconducting materials limits their critical applications in high-volume applications. This article will explore the history, current status and future challenges of superconducting motors, and how these challenges will affect the future development of motor technology.
Superconductors achieve zero electrical resistance at a certain transition temperature, allowing them to generate extremely high magnetic fields that are impossible to achieve in conventional motors.
History Review
The concept of superconducting motors is not new. In fact, as early as 1831, Michael Faraday created the earliest DC homopolar motor. As time goes by, the research on the application of superconductors in DC homopolar motors has gradually increased. In 2005, General Atomics of the United States was awarded a contract to create a large, low-speed superconducting homopolar motor for use in ship propulsion.
Superconducting homopolar generators are thought to have the potential to serve as pulsed power sources for laser weapon systems, although such machines still face challenges in practical applications. Early AC synchronous superconducting machines used low-temperature metal superconductors and required cooling with liquid helium, which limited their applications. But with the development of high-temperature superconducting technology, machines using ceramic superconductors have begun to attract widespread attention in the market.
The rise of high-temperature superconducting motors has brought new hope for the largest generators and ship propulsion motors.
Current Interests
Currently, interest in AC synchronous ceramic superconducting motors has focused on large machines such as generators used in utility and marine power plants, and motors used in ship propulsion. AMSC, together with Northrop Grumman, has developed and demonstrated a 36.5 MW superconducting marine propulsion motor. These motors are considered a powerful technology for wind turbines due to their lightweight nature, which can effectively reduce the cost of the overall power generation facilities.
The first commercial wind turbines are expected to be installed around 2020, paving the way for future renewable energy development.
The lightweight characteristics of superconducting generators will bring revolutionary changes to wind power generation technology.
Advantages and disadvantages analysis
Comparison with traditional conductor motors
Superconducting motors have significant advantages over traditional motors, but they also have some challenges and limitations. First of all, the advantages of superconducting motors include:
- Reduced resistance losses in the rotor electromagnet.
- With the same power capacity, the size and weight of the machine are greatly reduced.
However, these advantages come with some disadvantages, such as:
- Cost, size and complexity of cooling systems.
- When the superconducting material loses its superconducting state, the motor will suddenly stop working.
- Rotor speed instability.
- Electronic control systems are required for actual operation, which may increase operating costs.
Comparison between high temperature superconductors and low temperature superconductors
High-temperature superconductors (HTS) can achieve superconductivity at the more readily available temperatures of liquid nitrogen, while the use of liquid helium would increase costs. High-temperature superconductors are typically ceramic materials, but they are more fragile and difficult to manipulate than metal alloy superconductors, such as niobium-titanium alloys. In addition, ceramic superconductors cannot be joined by bolts or welding, which increases production costs. Under transient conditions, ceramic superconductors are more easily driven by oscillating magnetic fields and lose their superconductivity, which is also one of the problems that need to be solved in the future.
How to deal with the challenge of ceramic superconductors losing superconductivity during transient changes will be the key to promoting the advancement of superconducting motor technology.
Looking into the future, the technological evolution brought about by superconducting materials will undoubtedly have a profound impact on motor technology. However, how to overcome existing challenges and fully tap the potential of superconducting motors has become an urgent issue for industry professionals. As technology advances, can we really expect superconducting materials to become widespread in everyday applications?
