The motors/generators of the preferred embodiments include a rotating part (rotor) and a stationary part (stator). In the devices disclosed, the primary function of the stator is to provide a high strength background magnetic field in which the rotor rotates. The rotor can be powered with a current that changes direction in concert with the relative change in magnetic field direction of the background field (that is, as the rotor moves from one magnetic pole to the next) in the case of a motor. In the case of a generator, the movement of the rotor generally results in the generation of an alternating voltage and current.

An electromagnetic device is presented. The device includes a stator, a gap comprising multiple gap regions, and a rotor arranged in the gap to move relative to the stator. One of the stator and the rotor comprises a conductor array having one or more conductors each configured to carry current in a respective current flow direction. The other of the stator and the rotor comprises a flux directing assembly having multiple flux directing sections, each arranged adjacent to at least one other flux directing section and each configured to facilitate a circulating magnetic flux path about the respective flux directing section. Each pair of adjacent flux directing sections are arranged about a common gap region of the multiple gap regions and configured to direct at least part of the respective circulating magnetic flux paths across the common gap region in a substantially similar flux direction substantially perpendicular to the current flow direction.

An electromagnetic device is presented. The device includes a stator, a gap comprising multiple gap regions, and a rotor arranged in the gap to move relative to the stator. One of the stator and the rotor comprises a conductor array having one or more conductors each configured to carry current in a respective current flow direction. The other of the stator and the rotor comprises a flux directing assembly having multiple flux directing sections, each arranged adjacent to at least one other flux directing section and each configured to facilitate a circulating magnetic flux path about the respective flux directing section. Each pair of adjacent flux directing sections are arranged about a common gap region of the multiple gap regions and configured to direct at least part of the respective circulating magnetic flux paths across the common gap region in a substantially similar flux direction substantially perpendicular to the current flow direction.

A cooling system for a superconducting electric machine may comprise a fluid reservoir and a first fluid comprising a first mixture of hydrogen and helium configured to be stored in the fluid reservoir. A plurality of conduits may be fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir and may form a closed loop between the fluid reservoir and the superconducting electric machine.

A superconducting machine includes at least one superconducting coil and a coil support structure arranged with the at least one superconducting coil. The coil support structure includes at least one composite component affixed to the at least one superconducting coil and an interface component in frictional contact with the at least one composite component so as to reduce a likelihood of quench of the at least one superconducting coil.

A superconducting machine includes at least one superconducting coil and a coil support structure arranged with the at least one superconducting coil. The coil support structure includes at least one composite component affixed to the at least one superconducting coil and an interface component in frictional contact with the at least one composite component so as to reduce a likelihood of quench of the at least one superconducting coil.

A number of configurations of a high speed electromagnetic turbine (1300) are discussed. The turbine (1300) includes a housing (1301) includes at least superconducting coil (1307) for the generation of a magnetic field, the coil being retained within a cryogenic envelope of a cryogenic body (1306). The turbine (1300) includes also includes rotor assembly including one or more rotors (13091), (13092), (13093), (13094), (13095) and (13096) positioned on shaft (1310). The rotor being received within the bore (1308) formed between the interior walls of the body (1306) such that it is immersed in the magnetic field. As the current is passed through the rotor assembly the induced force due to the interaction of the current with the magnetic is translated into a torque on the shaft (1310).

A number of configurations of a high speed electromagnetic turbine (1300) are discussed. The turbine (1300) includes a housing (1301) includes at least superconducting coil (1307) for the generation of a magnetic field, the coil being retained within a cryogenic envelope of a cryogenic body (1306). The turbine (1300) includes also includes rotor assembly including one or more rotors (13091), (13092), (13093), (13094), (13095) and (13096) positioned on shaft (1310). The rotor being received within the bore (1308) formed between the interior walls of the body (1306) such that it is immersed in the magnetic field. As the current is passed through the rotor assembly the induced force due to the interaction of the current with the magnetic is translated into a torque on the shaft (1310).

A superconducting current pump arranged to cause a DC electrical current to flow through a superconducting circuit accommodated within a cryogenic enclosure of a cryostat comprises a rotor external to the cryogenic enclosure and a stator within the cryogenic enclosure, the rotor and stator separated by a gap through which passes a thermally insulating wall of the cryogenic enclosure, the rotor and the stator comprising at least in part a ferromagnetic material to concentrate magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit across the gap between the rotor and the stator and through the wall, so that movement of the rotor external to the cryogenic enclosure relative to the stator within the cryogenic enclosure induces a DC transport current to flow around the superconducting circuit within the cryogenic enclosure. There is no coupling between a drive motor external to the cryogenic enclosure and an internal rotor which may introduce a path for heat leakage into the cryostat, in turn increasing the heat load and thus increasing the cooling power required to maintain the cold components within the cryogenic enclosure at the low operating temperature required.

A superconducting current pump arranged to cause a DC electrical current to flow through a superconducting circuit accommodated within a cryogenic enclosure of a cryostat comprises a rotor external to the cryogenic enclosure and a stator within the cryogenic enclosure, the rotor and stator separated by a gap through which passes a thermally insulating wall of the cryogenic enclosure, the rotor and the stator comprising at least in part a ferromagnetic material to concentrate magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit across the gap between the rotor and the stator and through the wall, so that movement of the rotor external to the cryogenic enclosure relative to the stator within the cryogenic enclosure induces a DC transport current to flow around the superconducting circuit within the cryogenic enclosure. There is no coupling between a drive motor external to the cryogenic enclosure and an internal rotor which may introduce a path for heat leakage into the cryostat, in turn increasing the heat load and thus increasing the cooling power required to maintain the cold components within the cryogenic enclosure at the low operating temperature required.