Abstract
Although the application of superconductivity technologies to rotating machines has been studied since the 1970s, it has not yet been made practicable. However, due to the recent rapid improvements in high-temperature superconductor performance, high-temperature superconducting motors for ship propulsion are approaching a level where they can be utilized. In this article, the current status of R&D on high-temperature superconducting motors for ship propulsion being developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) and its cooperative research groups is reported. In particular, the aims, content and plans of two projects being led by KHI will be shown. The first one is the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) energy-saving project, and the second one is the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) SInnovation project. Finally, a roadmap and further studies related to the practical application of high-temperature superconducting motors for ship propulsion are shown.
