Superconductive ship propulsion systems

While conventional electric ship propulsion systems are considered to have a number of advantages, the weight and size of high-powered electric motors, together with cost considerations, have generally precluded them from marine propulsion systems except in the case of some special-purpose vessels. The advent of the high power-density superconductive motor, however, promises to bring to the marine engineer the many advantages of electric propulsion without the earlier disadvantages. A few advantages of superconductive electric propulsion systems are given, and an experimental machine, with its cooling system and compressor design, is also described.