MS student Michael Stoens with Advisor K. Haran

Superconducting technology stands poised to revolutionize the landscape of electric machines, promising unprecedented levels of efficiency and power density. This research is focused on two pivotal domains within ongoing superconducting machine advancement: AC loss modeling and active shielding.
AC losses, stemming from the interaction of superconductors with changing magnetic fields, represent a significant challenge in maintaining optimal operating conditions. By delving into AC loss modeling across various superconductors and operating scenarios, this research aims to provide accurate predictions essential for effective loss mitigation strategies.
Meanwhile, the advent of air-core superconducting machines presents a leap in power density, but also poses the challenge of managing stray magnetic fields without resorting to bulky iron cores. Active shielding is an innovative solution that deploys superconducting shield coils strategically around the main field coils, counteracting and neutralizing outward-propagating magnetic fields. This dual research effort not only addresses fundamental challenges in superconducting machine design but also holds the key to unlocking their full potential across diverse applications, from energy generation to transportation.
This research is funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

Figure 1. AC loss components of MgB2.

Figure 2. Finite element analysis of an actively-shielded machine (per Uijong Bong).