Compact, Lossless, Ruggedized, Electromagnetically Shielded Connectors for Power and Signals Navy SBIR FY2013.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2013.2 Topic No.: N132-127 Topic Title: Compact, Lossless, Ruggedized, Electromagnetically Shielded Connectors for Power and Signals Proposal No.: N132-127-0567 Firm: AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR 64 Jackson Road Devens, Massachusetts 01434 Contact: Hank Valcour Phone: (978) 842-3517 Web Site: www.amsc.com Abstract: Today's Navy continues to see increased demand for more power both on and off the ship. This need is largely driven by the continued development of high power density advanced weapons systems and sensors. Continued space and weight limitations for these ship applications will drive the need for new power solutions to be light and compact, easing installation on new ships and enabling upgrades on existing ones. To meet this need, highly efficient methods of transferring large amounts of power are being investigated by NSWC Carderock in Philadelphia through the use of High temperature Superconductors (HTS). Although the team in Philadelphia is developing these high capacity, compact power cables, there is no active development for the connectors that these extremely power dense cables will need if they are to integrated at the ship level. American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has gained experience in the development, design and manufacture of low voltage DC HTS cable connectors through its partnership with NSWC on the HTS advanced degaussing program. Although high capacity AC power cable connectors will be dramatically different than their low voltage DC counterparts, AMSC is nonetheless uniquely positioned to successfully develop this type of low temperature, thermally isolated, electrical connection. Benefits: Development of the connector proposed in this project will allow the implementation of high capacity AC power cables that are currently under development at NSWC and ONR. These high capacity power cables will be needed shortly to support the implementation of several high power density weapons and sensor systems that are in late stages of development. The ability to effectively implement the high capacity AC power cables taht are needed will be significnatly restricted without the assistance of a reliable, robust, efficient cable connector. Return