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This section provides an overview for superconducting motors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 3 superconducting motor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked superconducting motor companies as of December, 2024: 1.American Superconductor Corp, 2.Kitano-Seiki Co., ltd., 3.Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
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Superconducting motors utilize the phenomenon of superconductivity, where electrical resistance drops to zero at very low temperatures. This allows for the flow of large currents at low voltage, creating strong magnetic fields and enabling motors with excellent torque characteristics.
However, exceeding a critical magnetic field can disrupt the superconducting state of the superconducting wire, reverting it to normal conductivity with standard electrical resistance. Thus, careful management of superconducting magnetic fields is crucial.
Superconducting motors are expected to be smaller and lighter than traditional electric motors with equivalent output. They are anticipated for use in applications like superconducting linear railroads (linear motor cars), propulsion engines for ships and aircraft, and more.
Examples of practical applications include the Shanghai Maglev Train and Japan's JR Tokai superconducting linear motor car, slated to open in 2027. Additionally, superconductivity is already employed in medical MRI equipment.
Superconducting motors use coils made of superconducting wires in the motor rotor, achieving low-loss, high-efficiency operation with excellent torque. Magnets leveraging superconductivity create powerful magnetic fields for linear motor cars, reducing resistance components like wheel friction and enabling ultra-high-speed operation.
Niobium-titanium alloy (Nb-Ti) magnets exhibit superconductivity at the low temperature of 4K (-516°F) in liquid helium. Recent advancements include bismuth-based copper oxide, a high-temperature superconducting magnet that achieves superconductivity at 77K (-516°F) with liquid nitrogen, offering lower costs and easier handling than liquid helium.
Despite ongoing research and development, there are still challenges to overcome before widespread practical application, with major companies in the heavy industry sector actively involved in this work.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. is an ISO 45001-certified manufacturer of optical fiber and electrical wire cables that was established in Osaka, Japan, in 1897. The company produces optical fiber products for data communication or telecom applications, wire cable products for power transmission and automotive electronics, and flexible printed circuits for electronic device assembly. It also offers compound semiconductors for use in optical and wireless communication. The company’s products are commonly used by clients in the aerospace, telecommunications, and consumer electronics industries.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Superconductor Corp |
56.1%
|
| 2 | Kitano-Seiki Co., ltd. |
36.6%
|
| 3 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd |
7.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the superconducting motor page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
1 | 50.0% |
Japan
|
1 | 50.0% |
