American Superconductor successfully demonstrates commercial-scale prototype power converter.WESTBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 1995--American Superconductor A material that has little resistance to the flow of electricity. Traditional superconductors operate at absolute zero (-459.67 degrees Fahrenheit or -273.15 degrees Celsius). Experiments in the 1980s raised the temperature to -321 degrees Fahrenheit. Corporation (Nasdaq: AMSC AMSC Army Management Staff College AMSC American Mobile Satellite Corporation AMSC American Miniature Schnauzer Club AMSC Area Maritime Security Committee AMSC Acquisition Method Suffix Code AMSC Advanced Missile Signature Center ) has demonstrated a commercial-scale prototype of a cryogenically cooled power converter that reinforces the company's plans to launch a significant commercial product line in mid-1997. The demonstration took place at American Superconductor's Westborough manufacturing plant four months ahead of schedule and exceeded performance expectations by more than 30 percent -- enough to reach 100kW, the minimum power level required for commercialization of cryogenically cooled power converters. The company's commercialization plan for introducing its CryoPower(TM) line of power converters had called for a 75kW demonstration by February 1996. Power converters are used for the conversion and control of electric power in many electrical applications, including all motor drives, metal and chemical processing equipment, electric trains, and power quality equipment. Electric power utilities, chemical processors and heavy industry will be among the major initial users of CryoPower. The commercial CryoPower devices -- which will integrate cryocooled power semiconductors with high temperature superconducting su·per·con·duct·ing adj. Having, exhibiting, or capable of superconductivity: "a revolutionary superconducting magnetic propulsion system" Colin Nickerson. inductor inductor, electric device consisting of one or more turns of wire and typically having two terminals. An inductor is usually connected into a circuit in order to raise the inductance to a desired value. coils -- will meet the growing demand for smaller, lighter and cheaper ways to control and convert electric power. Bob Hawsey, manager, Superconductivity superconductivity, abnormally high electrical conductivity of certain substances. The phenomenon was discovered in 1911 by Kamerlingh Onnes, who found that the resistance of mercury dropped suddenly to zero at a temperature of about 4.2°K;. Program for Electric Power Systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle, LLC. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville. , said that widespread electric power savings will be an immediate benefit of the integrated technologies. He also said that the benefits demonstrated by American Superconductor's new prototype should lead to a multitude of new applications for the integrated technologies. "Combining high temperature superconductors with cryocooled power semiconductors will result in quantum improvement in the size, weight and efficiency of power conversion equipment," he said. "Motor controllers, power conditioning equipment In telecommunication, the term conditioning equipment has the following meanings:
Greg Yurek, president and chief executive officer of American Superconductor American Superconductor is a technology company based in Westborough, Massachusetts specializing in the design and manufacture of superconducting wires and power converters. It is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol AMSC. , said that the annual global market for conventional power converters rated at 100kW or larger is estimated to be $200 million. "The practical benefits that cryogenic cryogenic /cry·o·gen·ic/ (-jen´ik) producing low temperatures. cry·o·gen·ic adj. 1. Relating to or producing low temperatures. 2. power converters will deliver to end-users -- size and weight reduction plus increased efficiency, better reliability and lower cost -- are likely to broaden the market," he said. "We now expect to be in beta-site testing in 1996, and we remain confident that CryoPower devices will generate revenues in 1997." Yurek pointed out that the power electronics unit for a conventional adjustable speed drive for a 10,000 horsepower motor is about the size of a transit bus A transit bus (also known as a commuter bus) in the United States is usually operated by an urban-suburban bus line, a governmental public transit agency, or a contractor. A transit bus is normally used on public transit routes. . "Our CryoPower devices will pack the power electronics for control of the same size motor into a unit the size of a desk," Yurek stated. "In addition to dramatic reductions in size and weight, power conversion efficiencies will be increased to over 99.9% from 98% for conventional electronics." American Superconductor is the leader in developing commercial applications of high temperature superconductor technology for the global electric power industry. With world-class expertise in electromagnetics, cryogenic integration, power semiconductors and power engineering as well as high temperature superconductors, the company is driving the evolving market for advanced electric power equipment and power quality products. CONTACT: American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough Denise Mikulis/Ned Schiff 508/836-4200 or Makovsky & Company Bernie Kilkelly/Bob Cavosi 212/508-9600 |
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