Quarterly Progress Report: Modeling and Simulation of the Homopolar Motor Test Apparatus

Abstract

The US Navy is in the advanced stages of developing a superconducting homopolar motor/generator (SCHPMG) machine for ship propulsion. Electrical contact (brush/slip ring) performance is a limiting factor in SCHPMG technology development. Experimental evidence has shown that brush wear is not only highly asymmetric among brushes of opposite polarity (anode and cathode) but is also non-uniform within the contact area of the individual brush. This asymmetric and non-uniform wearing has limited the life and efficiency of the brush assembly, and debris from worn brushes can adversely affect the machine operating environment. Accurate EM characterization of the brush/rotor or brush/slip ring interface is essential not only for understanding the wear behavior of the brush but also for optimal brush design.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA449360

Entities

People

  • Kuo-ta Hsieh

Organizations

  • University of Texas at Austin

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Adiabatic Conditions
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Assembly
  • Current Density
  • Eddy Currents
  • Efficiency
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Environment
  • Generators
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Peak Values
  • Polarity
  • Rings
  • Simulations
  • Slip Rings
  • Trailing Edges

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).