Here is a pretty interesting article on their SMES...
MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
INSTALLED AT FLA. AIR FORCE BASE
WC 365 Words
CC 2712 Characters
PD 06/26/98
SN Industrial Energy Bulletin
PG 8
CY (Copyright 1998 McGraw-Hill, Inc.)
LP
* The Magnet Business Group of Intermagnetics General Corp. announced May 27
it had delivered and installed its first superconducting magnetic energy
storage system at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Air Base Technology
Branch at Tyndall Air Force Base near Pensacola, Fla.
The storage system, known as IPQ-750, was designed to protect critically
important electric equipment against voltage sags and power interruptions, in
addition to providing continuously conditioned quality power.
TD
The system has the capacity to store and protect 600 kW for up to five
seconds, 400 kW for 15 seconds and 100 kW for a minute, according to Kamal
Kalafala, program director of the Latham, N.Y.-based Magnet Business. In
addition, several IPQ-750s can be integrated to protect larger loads or for
longer periods.
''Five seconds might appear to be very short,'' Kalafala said, ''but most
power interruptions last for less than one second.'' He said the system could
stand on its own if needed only for short periods, or could be integrated into
a larger system, such as a back-up generator.
The system would be especially useful for industrials that have robotically
operated factories, where even a brief power spike or sag could result in a
shutdown of manufacturing, which could take hours or days to restart. Electric
utilities seeking to provide large customers with quality power are also
possible marketing targets for the system.
The cost of the system installed at the Air Force base was about $1 million,
Kalafala said. However, that included a specialized container, which added
about $200,000 to the price.
One of the alternatives to the IPQ-750 includes batteries. However,
batteries suffer from degradation from repeated use and frequent replacement,
unlike the magnetic system. In addition, a flywheel back-up system is in the
prototype stage, and is undergoing testing in Florida, Kalafala said.
Another company, Superconductivity Inc., has had a similar product for
several years, ''but I think our technology is more advanced than what has
existed, so far,'' Kalafala said.
* Intermagnetics Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Carl Rosner said the
IPQ-750 had ''leap-frogged the competition. The unique design incorporates
such technological innovations as high temperature superconducting power
leads, low-maintenance, cryocooler-based refrigeration and a compact
stand-alone mobile relocatabale shelter.''
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