Applied Materials Teaming with Central Hudson Gas & Electric to Demonstrate Superconducting Fault Current Limiter Technology ...
April 15 2014 - 7:30AM
-
Applied joins Central Hudson
Gas and Electric, SuperPower Inc., and Three-C to demonstrate
technology designed to safeguard power grids from damaging effects
of fault currents
-
Superconducting fault current
limiter has potential to improve grid reliability and overall power
transfer capabilities, and reduce infrastructure costs
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 15, 2014 - Applied
Materials, Inc. today announced that it has completed the assembly
of a superconducting fault current limiter (SCFCL) system for
installation and on-grid testing at the Knapps Corners substation
owned and operated by Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp.
(Central Hudson) in New York. This SCFCL system, which is scheduled
to become operational in May 2014, is designed to help protect
Central Hudson's electricity grid from the potentially devastating
effects of electrical faults.
Applied is teaming with the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Central Hudson, a New
York State regulated electric and gas utility; SuperPower Inc., a
manufacturer of high-temperature superconducting wire; and Three-C
Electrical Co., a utility systems integrator, to complete the
utility-scale implementation. System testing and evaluation will be
conducted over a period of one year starting in May 2014, and the
performance data will be provided to the New York State Public
Service Commission.
Fault current mitigation is an increasing area of
concern for utilities due to changes in power demand and the
proliferation of new distributed generation sources. A fault
current is an unintended, excessive current flowing through the
electrical system that may be caused by various factors, including
lightning or downed or crossed power lines. Fault currents can
induce significant stress on critical substation equipment such as
power transformers and breakers, resulting in a failure of part of
the system and leading to interruption of power delivery. These
destructive forces also wear out grid components causing premature
failure and need for expensive capital replacements.
The SCFCL system is designed to reduce the first
peak of a fault current on a power line, thereby limiting the
destructive forces on the power system and improving equipment
reliability. In developing its SCFCL technology, Applied utilized
its high-voltage engineering experience gained in designing ion
implant tools for the semiconductor industry, as well as its
expertise in large-equipment systems engineering. Incorporating
advanced 2G high-temperature superconducting materials, the SCFCL
is designed to add essentially zero impedance during normal
operation, to insert impedance in time to reduce the first peak of
fault current, and to rapidly recover after a fault for subsequent
operation. Depending on the specific system configuration and local
operating conditions, the SCFCL has the potential to reduce the
magnitude of fault currents by the desired levels, typically 50% or
more.
"We anticipate that the successful demonstration
of our superconducting fault current limiter in New York will be a
significant milestone in showing the potential of this technology
for wide-scale adoption by electric utilities globally," said Om
Nalamasu, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Applied
Materials. "Applied's development of this technology is an example
of how the company's core capabilities can add value in additional
market areas. We are grateful to the New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority for their support, as well as our project
team members Central Hudson, SuperPower Inc., and Three-C for
working closely with Applied to install and demonstrate the
superconducting fault current limiter at Central Hudson's Knapps
Corners Substation."
"We see the application of fault current limiters
at our host substation as a great opportunity to test and evaluate
this promising technology," said Paul Haering, Central Hudson's
Vice President of Engineering and System Operations. "The large
current experienced during a fault - up to 200 times nominal
current level - exerts excessive forces on power grid components
and connections. By adding fault current limiters, our goal is to
lengthen the service life of equipment and lower system losses,
ultimately lowering costs for our electricity customers."
"As a world leading developer and producer of
second-generation high-temperature superconducting wire, SuperPower
provides a key component of the fault current limiter system," said
Mickey Lavicska, associate director of marketing and sales at
SuperPower Inc. "During normal operation, the wire in the fault
current limiter is cooled to a critical temperature that brings it
to the superconducting state where there is no resistance to the
flow of the electric current. When a fault occurs in the
line, the wire leaves the superconducting state and immediately
becomes resistive, thereby impeding the fault current flow and
reducing the electrical current to levels manageable by existing
equipment."
About Applied
Materials
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in
providing innovative equipment, services and software to enable the
manufacture of advanced semiconductor, flat panel display and solar
photovoltaic products. Our technologies help make innovations like
smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar panels more affordable and
accessible to consumers and businesses around the world. Learn more
at www.appliedmaterials.com.
# # #
Contact:
Ricky Gradwohl (editorial/media) 408.235.4676
Michael Sullivan (financial community) 408.986.7977
John Ludlum (business development) 978.282.6379
This
announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on
behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Applied Materials via Globenewswire
HUG#1777387
Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024