High-temperature superconductors
Superconductors are materials that lose their electrical resistance when cooled below a certain critical temperature, but the high-temperature variety (HTS) – which operate at more manageable temperatures – have been developed since the late 1980s.
The materials can carry more than 100 times the electrical current than standard copper wire of the same dimensions, but has been seen as an expensive option compared to conventional wire.
AMSC now mass produces HTS wire at its Massachusetts headquarters, claiming that the wire can carry 150 times the electrical current of copper wire, "dramatically" reducing the size and weight of electrical equipment and "significantly" increasing the throughput of power cables.
The firm is now working on a "second generation" HTS wire, which it believes will see manufacturing costs five times lower than its first generation product.
At the same time as the cost analysis work, AMSC is continuing to work with Texas-based electric motor specialists TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company to develop superconductor technology for 10MW-class wind generators.
The $6.8 million (£4.7 million) design project has been going on since late 2007, 50% funded by the National Institute of Science and Technology's (NIST) Advanced Technology Program.
"Active dialogue" is already underway with partners regarding the kind of towers, blades and other components that will be required to host such large turbines, Mr Fredette said.
Once complete, the two feasibility projects will feed into work to build and test a full-size prototype superconductor wind turbine, before the 10MW system is made commercially available in the middle of the next decade.
Wind turbines have been getting steadily larger, particularly for offshore deployment. AMSC said it believed the limitations of conventional technology meant turbines would top out at about 6MW in scale.
Fellow US company Clipper is currently working on a 7.5MW offshore wind turbine, with the intention of developing a prototype in North East England, as well as a new production facility in the east of Newcastle.
AMSC's business model is to licence out its wind turbine designs to customer companies and provide the superconductor components, rather than make the wind turbines themselves. It also helps customers set up supply chains to source all the required components.
It has existing customers producing 1.65MW and 2MW turbines in eastern Europe and the Far East - where China's biggest wind turbine company Sinovel is about to start production on a 5MW model later this year. These would be "logical" partners for the 10MW model, the firm said.
But, Mr Fredette said AMSC hoped to find a partner in the UK or northern Europe to supply the 10MW turbine for the UK market.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
US Navy
US Navy
AMSC, which has its headquarters in Devens, Massachusetts, is known in the UK energy sector for its voltage control systems, including the D-VAR dynamic control system that allows wind farms to be connected up to the grid, meeting strict UK grid codes.
Last month the company completed testing on a 36.5MW electric motor for a US Navy ship in Philadelphia, which used coils of AMSC's High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) wires rather than conventional copper wire.
We've been working on these power dense machines for 17 years - this is proventechnology.
Jason Fredette, AMSC
Mr Fredette said that for the 10MW turbine, the motor design would effectively be run in reverse in order to generate energy from the wind.
AMSC claims its HTS wires can carry 150 times the capacity of power than copper wires, which it says will mean the 10MW turbine is expected to be around 120 tonnes in weight, rather than the 300 tonnes suggested for a conventional direct drive 10MW turbine.
Further benefits will come from the direct drive design, which would not require a bulky, maintenance-hungry gearbox.
"We've been working on these power dense machines for 17 years - this is proven technology," Mr Fredette explained.
"We have a successful project with the US Navy - there's $100 million invested in that project, and now the same machine run in reverse can be used by the wind market."
Under the 12-month programme with the US wind centre, AMSC Windtec, the company's Austrian wind power design division, will work with the US National Wind Technology Center to analyse the cost of a full 10MW turbine system including the blades, hub, power electronics, nacelle, tower and controls.
The NWTC will then evaluate the wind turbine's economic impact, both in terms of initial cost and overall cost of energy per MW of installed capacity.
The company told New Energy Focus it had internal ideas of the kind of costs that would be involved, but was unwilling to make those estimates public to pre-empt the study.
AMSC, which has its headquarters in Devens, Massachusetts, is known in the UK energy sector for its voltage control systems, including the D-VAR dynamic control system that allows wind farms to be connected up to the grid, meeting strict UK grid codes.
Last month the company completed testing on a 36.5MW electric motor for a US Navy ship in Philadelphia, which used coils of AMSC's High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) wires rather than conventional copper wire.
We've been working on these power dense machines for 17 years - this is proventechnology.
Jason Fredette, AMSC
Mr Fredette said that for the 10MW turbine, the motor design would effectively be run in reverse in order to generate energy from the wind.
AMSC claims its HTS wires can carry 150 times the capacity of power than copper wires, which it says will mean the 10MW turbine is expected to be around 120 tonnes in weight, rather than the 300 tonnes suggested for a conventional direct drive 10MW turbine.
Further benefits will come from the direct drive design, which would not require a bulky, maintenance-hungry gearbox.
"We've been working on these power dense machines for 17 years - this is proven technology," Mr Fredette explained.
"We have a successful project with the US Navy - there's $100 million invested in that project, and now the same machine run in reverse can be used by the wind market."
Under the 12-month programme with the US wind centre, AMSC Windtec, the company's Austrian wind power design division, will work with the US National Wind Technology Center to analyse the cost of a full 10MW turbine system including the blades, hub, power electronics, nacelle, tower and controls.
The NWTC will then evaluate the wind turbine's economic impact, both in terms of initial cost and overall cost of energy per MW of installed capacity.
The company told New Energy Focus it had internal ideas of the kind of costs that would be involved, but was unwilling to make those estimates public to pre-empt the study.
Britain in the frame for 10MW offshore wind turbine from AMSC
New Energy Focus - 13 hours ago
... to work with Texas-based electric motor specialists TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company to develop superconductor technology for 10MW-class wind generators. ...
...........................................................________________________.................................................
Work is underway in the US on the next generation of wind power that could see 10MW turbines developed - with the UK seen as a key market.
American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) announced this week that it has started a 12-month project, working with the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, looking at the potential economics of the massive turbines.
The work is being carried out alongside an existing, separate project drawing up potential designs for a 10MW direct drive wind turbine.
AMSC said its superconductor technology could break through the wind power capacity barrier for conventional wind turbines. It said its new 10MW wind turbine will be a fraction of the size of regular direct drive turbines of that power rating, and less than half the weight.
And, with the increased size the project should bring wind developers economies of scale, the company believes.
Speaking to New Energy Focus yesterday, AMSC's director of investor relations Jason Fredette said his company was seeing the UK as a major target for its 10MW turbine.
"The UK is talking about tens of gigawatts of new capacity, up to 33GW - you can either put up 7,000 to 8,000 smaller wind turbines or you could put up around 3,000 to 4,000 turbines in the 10MW class," he said.
Mr Fredette said: "Our objective is to have a wind turbine ready for when offshore wind really takes off - it's predicted to be the middle of the next decade, around 2014-2015. That gives us time to commercialise this system."
... to work with Texas-based electric motor specialists TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company to develop superconductor technology for 10MW-class wind generators. ...
...........................................................________________________.................................................
Work is underway in the US on the next generation of wind power that could see 10MW turbines developed - with the UK seen as a key market.
American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) announced this week that it has started a 12-month project, working with the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, looking at the potential economics of the massive turbines.
The work is being carried out alongside an existing, separate project drawing up potential designs for a 10MW direct drive wind turbine.
AMSC said its superconductor technology could break through the wind power capacity barrier for conventional wind turbines. It said its new 10MW wind turbine will be a fraction of the size of regular direct drive turbines of that power rating, and less than half the weight.
And, with the increased size the project should bring wind developers economies of scale, the company believes.
Speaking to New Energy Focus yesterday, AMSC's director of investor relations Jason Fredette said his company was seeing the UK as a major target for its 10MW turbine.
"The UK is talking about tens of gigawatts of new capacity, up to 33GW - you can either put up 7,000 to 8,000 smaller wind turbines or you could put up around 3,000 to 4,000 turbines in the 10MW class," he said.
Mr Fredette said: "Our objective is to have a wind turbine ready for when offshore wind really takes off - it's predicted to be the middle of the next decade, around 2014-2015. That gives us time to commercialise this system."
Business Standard
Business Standard
Geneva show: Magnetic attraction for battery cars
Motoring - 5 hours ago
It's called the iChange and is covered with solar panels to showcase clean technology. The "1-2-3-seater" powered by a 130kW electric motor adapts via an ...
Geneva Motor Show seeks green light out of gloom Khaleej Times
MARK PHELAN Automakers desperate to generate buzz at Geneva Auto Show Detroit Free Press
all 7 news articles »
(part 2)
We are seeing an increase in the numbers of people in pre-employment programs rising as unemployment has increased," said Scott Alsobrooks, director of Pearl River Community College's work force education program. "But we are also seeing a slight cutback in existing industry that might cut back on training a bit because of the economy."
While Pearl River's Lowery Woodall Advanced Technology Center focused heavily on helping people advance their careers in its early years, Hurricane Katrina shifted its mission and made it better prepared to deal with today's economy, Alsobrooks said.
"Since Katrina our focus has shifted more to preparing people for new jobs. Prior we had focus on moving people up the ladder; we still do that quite a bit," Alsobrooks said. "Our goal with programs post-Katrina is intense training to get people in and out and into the job market as quickly as possibly. It set us up well for the unemployment crisis we are seeing."
It is a similar story at Jones County Junior College's Advanced Technology Center, which opened after the 2005 hurricane.
"Basically we are focused on getting people work skills," ATC Director Greg Butler said. "We have seen a slight increase, but we do expect a bigger increase as a result of unemployment. Our main areas are adult education, small business, work force development. We have a small business development center to help people looking to start a business."
-->(2 of 2)
Both work force development officials agreed that construction-related and skilled trades are currently the strongest markets.
triggerAd(2,PaginationPage,9);
"Where we see the biggest need for training is in skilled craftsmen, such as welding, pipefitting, machining, construction, etc.," Butler said. "There is an enormous need for worker training in the advanced manufacturing trades."
"One area market that is still strong is the metal trades industry," Alsobrooks said. "We have welding programs all over the district with good placement rates and good pay. Another area is construction and we have a 12-week, intense program designed to get people in and out into the workforce."
But the schools also focus heavily on technology as the job market continues to incorporate technology.
"I know we have seen an increase in learning technology. Every field, whether it's health care or manufacturing, is going to have a computer attached to it."
In addition to those programs, Alsobrooks said Pearl River has worked with Chain Electric, Mississippi Power Co. and Coast Electric to recently start a program to train electrical lineworkers.
"This is an example of how we are seeing industry step up when they see a crisis coming," he said. "The average age of line workers is 50 and it's a young man and woman's game."
The program, which is supported by a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant and the cooperation of area electric companies, gives participants a chance to take individual classes on specific areas of the electrical distribution system, Alsobrooks said.
New at JCJC is a program to help inmates learn work skills, Butler said. The program, which is expected to begin in early February, will focus on inmates housed at the South Mississippi Correctional Facility.
While Pearl River's Lowery Woodall Advanced Technology Center focused heavily on helping people advance their careers in its early years, Hurricane Katrina shifted its mission and made it better prepared to deal with today's economy, Alsobrooks said.
"Since Katrina our focus has shifted more to preparing people for new jobs. Prior we had focus on moving people up the ladder; we still do that quite a bit," Alsobrooks said. "Our goal with programs post-Katrina is intense training to get people in and out and into the job market as quickly as possibly. It set us up well for the unemployment crisis we are seeing."
It is a similar story at Jones County Junior College's Advanced Technology Center, which opened after the 2005 hurricane.
"Basically we are focused on getting people work skills," ATC Director Greg Butler said. "We have seen a slight increase, but we do expect a bigger increase as a result of unemployment. Our main areas are adult education, small business, work force development. We have a small business development center to help people looking to start a business."
-->(2 of 2)
Both work force development officials agreed that construction-related and skilled trades are currently the strongest markets.
triggerAd(2,PaginationPage,9);
"Where we see the biggest need for training is in skilled craftsmen, such as welding, pipefitting, machining, construction, etc.," Butler said. "There is an enormous need for worker training in the advanced manufacturing trades."
"One area market that is still strong is the metal trades industry," Alsobrooks said. "We have welding programs all over the district with good placement rates and good pay. Another area is construction and we have a 12-week, intense program designed to get people in and out into the workforce."
But the schools also focus heavily on technology as the job market continues to incorporate technology.
"I know we have seen an increase in learning technology. Every field, whether it's health care or manufacturing, is going to have a computer attached to it."
In addition to those programs, Alsobrooks said Pearl River has worked with Chain Electric, Mississippi Power Co. and Coast Electric to recently start a program to train electrical lineworkers.
"This is an example of how we are seeing industry step up when they see a crisis coming," he said. "The average age of line workers is 50 and it's a young man and woman's game."
The program, which is supported by a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant and the cooperation of area electric companies, gives participants a chance to take individual classes on specific areas of the electrical distribution system, Alsobrooks said.
New at JCJC is a program to help inmates learn work skills, Butler said. The program, which is expected to begin in early February, will focus on inmates housed at the South Mississippi Correctional Facility.
As unemployment rates increase, so does enrollment at local ...
Hattiesburg American - 45 minutes ago
In addition to those programs, Alsobrooks said Pearl River has worked with Chain Electric, Mississippi Power Co. and Coast Electric to recently start a ...
With higher unemployment in the midst of the country's economic downturn, officials at the area's two junior colleges are seeing higher than normal numbers of adults enrolling in adult and continuing education courses to either make themselves more employable or to find work in a new field.
In addition to those programs, Alsobrooks said Pearl River has worked with Chain Electric, Mississippi Power Co. and Coast Electric to recently start a ...
With higher unemployment in the midst of the country's economic downturn, officials at the area's two junior colleges are seeing higher than normal numbers of adults enrolling in adult and continuing education courses to either make themselves more employable or to find work in a new field.
Editorial Reviews
Review"...a comprehensive review...logically laid out...accessible to readers at different levels of technical knowledge..." (IEE Review, June 2004) Product DescriptionWhile the classic battery electric car continues to make only a small impact on the automobile market, other types of electric vehicle, especially hybrids, have made significant and promising improvements. Moreover, small battery electric vehicles such as bicycles and mobility aids are also developing well. Presenting more than 160 diagrams and pictures, this book explains the science and technology behind these important developments, and also introduces the issues that underpin the design and performance modelling of electric vehicles.
Electric Vehicle Technology Explained:
Encompasses a full range of electric vehicles: bicycles, mobility aids, delivery vehicles and buses – not just cars.
Covers all the basic technology relating to electric road vehicles – batteries, super capacitors, flywheels, fuel cells, electric motors and their controllers, and system design.
Considers the environmental benefits and disadvantages of electric vehicles and their component devices.
Includes case studies of a range of batteries, hybrids and fuel cell powered vehicles, from bicycles to buses.
Offers many MATLAB® examples explaining the design of appropriate computer prediction models.
Professionals, researchers and engineers in the electric vehicle industry as well as advanced students in electrical and mechanical engineering will benefit from this comprehensive coverage of electric vehicle technology.
Electric Vehicle Technology Explained:
Encompasses a full range of electric vehicles: bicycles, mobility aids, delivery vehicles and buses – not just cars.
Covers all the basic technology relating to electric road vehicles – batteries, super capacitors, flywheels, fuel cells, electric motors and their controllers, and system design.
Considers the environmental benefits and disadvantages of electric vehicles and their component devices.
Includes case studies of a range of batteries, hybrids and fuel cell powered vehicles, from bicycles to buses.
Offers many MATLAB® examples explaining the design of appropriate computer prediction models.
Professionals, researchers and engineers in the electric vehicle industry as well as advanced students in electrical and mechanical engineering will benefit from this comprehensive coverage of electric vehicle technology.
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