Silver News

American Superconductor has claimed in briefings to federal agencies that the electrical carrying capacity of its second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire is twice that of the best 2G HTS wires currently available and 50 percent higher than the company’s own previously reported results.

These claims would indicate that the company’s wires are approaching a threshold where they could be widely used in commercial applications.

“The results that AMSC has been achieving in the production of 2G HTS wires are outstanding,” said Paul Barnes, Superconductivity Team Leader at the Air Force Research Laboratory, in a prepared statement. “The uniform and repeatable electrical performance they have been achieving clearly indicates a viable, well-controlled manufacturing process. With scaledup equipment, AMSC can establish a long-length manufacturing capability for 2G HTS wire.”

“The investments that we have made in 2G HTS wire technology are really paying off in terms of performance and scalability of our proprietary manufacturing process,” said Greg Yurek, chief executive officer of American Superconductor. “We have now demonstrated that commercial performance levels over reasonable lengths of 2G HTS wire are within reach.”

Second generation HTS wire is a different HTS wire than the multifilamentary HTS wire (also known as BSCCO or first generation). The 2G wire’s structure looks similar to “layered pieces of tape,” according to company officials. Silver is used in both types of wires with estimates of silver consumption for 1G estimated at about 50 million ounces annually for the next decade. 2G, however, uses less silver -- about 2 orders of magnitude less -- but if 2G catches on for commercial applications, overall silver consumption could be substantial.

The first pieces of equipment for AMSC’s expanded production capability have already been ordered and Yurek said they are expected to be operational by fall.

AMSC’s first generation (1G) HTS wire is being produced commercially in lengths up to 1,000 meters. AMSC’s first generation wire carries more than 140 times the electrical current of copper wire of the same dimensions. The company expects its second generation wire to have a price-performance ratio equal to or lower than that of copper and 2- to 5-times lower than its current HTS wire product.

Silver News - Second Quarter 2004