Siemens develops AES motor

,

and

divisions, have together developed a new type of propulsion motor for all-electric ships (AES).

The synchronous machine is part of an electric propulsion system based on high temperature superconducting technology (HTS). The HTS engine generates 4MW of power at a torque of over 300kNm.

The superconductors of the rotor windings carry a current density 100 times greater than that in conventional copper windings, giving weight and volume reduction. There are no electrical losses with HTS, which achieves greater efficiency.

The enclosed, self-regulating system, which cools the superconducting rotor windings of the motor to a temperature of 27K, cools economically with a low level of maintenance required. As a result, Siemens says it is possible to design more energy-efficient ships with more effective capacity usage that have less environmental impact and are cheaper to operate.

Three partners, TransMIT Gesellschaft für Technologietransfer, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt Potsdam, are also backing the project, which is being co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology.