AML SUPERCONDUCTIVITY & MAGNETICS Magnet men RM: AML Perfect-Field™ dramatically accelerates time to Dr Rainer Meinke, Mark Senti and market by exactly converting a specific application’s theoretically Vernon Prince discuss their work ‘perfect’ magnetic field into a fully functioning reality. It bringing superconductivity- and eliminates the many design constraints inherent in traditional magnet-based innovations to market development methods, and enables superconducting or Can you introduce your respective roles within near-superconducting performance using AML Superconductivity and Magnetics (AML)? conductors ranging from conventional copper to advanced nanomaterials. Most important, RM: I am AML’s Chief Technology Officer and it does it all rapidly, cost-effectively and for co-Founder. As an international expert in the virtually any kind of application – in many science and application of superconductivity cases offering performance capabilities that and advanced magnetics, I lead the company’s were once considered unachievable. technical developments. What is AML’s philosophy in relation to IP? MS: As AML’s President and co-Founder, I have led the strategic direction of the company since VP: AML offers a total, end-to-end capability its inception, with responsibilities that include that brings together advanced technologies, developing business strategies, intellectual skills and specialised knowledge sharply property (IP) strategies and joint ventures. focused on the commercialisation of superconductivity and high-performance VP: Since joining AML as Vice President of magnetics. With our Perfect-Field TM Development in 2008, I have been instrumental Application Development Process at its in developing the company’s energy heart, our layered IP portfolio is comprised business. I have shaped strategies, secured of dozens of existing and pending patents that millions of research dollars, and formed cover hundreds of discrete technologies and and led a multifaceted team of world-class capabilities. It also encompasses dozens of collaboration partners. strategic partners, as well as an impressive list of international science projects, AML is a global technology leader. What are laboratories, universities, foundations and the company’s key objectives? government agencies. In layman’s terms, one could say that superconductivity and magnetic fields don’t like each other and actually interfere with each other’s mutual existence. The loss-free current transport in superconductors ceases if a surrounding field changes or becomes too strong. Therefore, superconducting technology is a complex balancing act between the electrical current in the conductor and the surrounding magnetic field. MS: AML aims to help visionary companies transform markets with superconductivity and advanced magnetic technologies. Our unique approach to the marketplace radiates outward, building from the point of our greatest strength enabling technologies, leveraging intellectual property, capabilities and validated product platforms that can be applied across many industries. We are now entering large markets, with broad potential for growth in areas such as offshore wind power, power generation, aerospace propulsion and medical applications. AML gives customers rights to all of our IP, including core technologies, trade secrets and know-how, both existing and future. The licensing of this IP spectrum is based on narrow, well-defined ‘fields-of-use’ that give visionary companies complete and defensible control over specific high-value market opportunities. MS: Yes, in fact these rival the technical challenges, despite universal agreement on the benefits of superconductivity. These applications are primarily very large scale and therefore require large amounts of investment capital. This limits the landscape of investment and early adopters. Could you briefly introduce the AML PerfectFieldTM Application Development Process? RM: Developing superconducting magnets and systems requires a multi-physics approach. 126 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION Can you provide an insight into how your combined approach works to overcome some of the most persistent challenges for superconducting systems? Additionally, superconducting systems have to operate at well-controlled, very low temperatures. Building superconducting equipment that operates reliably under all these constraints is complex. It is a technical challenge that requires careful design with a detailed understanding of all operational parameters. Finally, the various emerging applications of magnetic fields for medical applications (such as for transcranial stimulation, magnetic resonance imaging and proton radiation treatment) require magnetic fields with well-controlled properties. To meet all these requirements, a combined approach is needed that takes all effects and properties into account. You have been working to apply superconductivity technology in multi-billion dollar markets. Have you encountered any challenges when securing funding for such large-scale ambitions? Superconductivity on a grand scale AML Superconductivity and Magnetics is a US-based application development and licensing company devoted to the worldwide commercialisation of superconducting- and magnet-based solutions, and it is on its way to cementing its position as a world leader in the field AML Fully Superconducting Generator. FEA validation of optimised results (COMSOL). FUTURE PLANS The potential impact of economically viable superconducting systems is enormous for: ENERGY – impacting the entire landscape of how we generate, store, transmit, stabilise and use electrical energy DISCOVERED IN 1911, superconductivity occurs when an electric conductor is cooled to a low temperature and exhibits no electrical resistance or related energy loss. Although scientists across the globe have been exploring ways to exploit the power of superconductivity to improve power generation, distribution and use, progress over the past century has been limited by a number of obstacles relating to cost, reliability and performance. THE TIME IS NOW AML has two decades of experience at the forefront of superconductivity and magnetic technology R&D, making it an established application development leader in the field. The company aims to harness its position at the cutting-edge to enable the widespread introduction, uptake and adoption of superconductor- and magnet-based applications to meet a range of needs. However, a renewed vigour has been injected into superconductivity development due to increasing attention across the international policy landscape, largely due to recognition of superconductivity’s potential to help society meet future grand challenges. Furthermore, recent technological advances mean that, for the first time in history, humans are at a point where exploiting the power of this phenomenon on a commercial scale is at last feasible. The potential impact of such applications in terms of energy and the environment cannot be overstated. For example, when used in large, 10 MW+ offshore wind turbines, superconducting generators offer a greener and more costeffective alternative to conventional generators due to their lower weight and size, higher efficiency and elimination of the need for high-cost rare earth materials. Similarly, when used as components in electrical grids, superconductors allow for low-loss power transmission with higher reliability, stability and efficiency than conventional components. When applied to industrial motors and generators, superconducting versions can achieve upwards of 99 per cent efficiency, significantly reducing overall energy consumption. In pursuit of this aim, a combination of cutting-edge magnet technologies capable of maintaining conductor stability, commercially feasible conductor materials, cryogenic capabilities and in-depth experience in systems design and integration is required. This is where AML Superconductivity and Magnetics (AML – formerly known as the Advanced Magnet Lab) comes in. WATER – improving the efficiency of desalination and industrial/ environmental separation processes AML’S US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYAPPROVED SUPERCONDUCTING WIND TURBINE TRANSPORTATION – significantly improving existing propulsion systems for large ships and aircraft; more fuel efficient, quieter and significant reduction in emissions. AML has defined superconducting offshore turbine generator technology – an achievement that will have farreaching applications SPACE – overcoming obstacles such as space radiation shielding for humans travelling into deep space MEDICINE – cancer treatment systems that eradicate cancerous tumours without harming adjacent tissue As part of its ongoing strategy to harness the power of offshore wind farming, the US Department of Energy has selected AML’s direct-drive superconducting generator design for use in offshore wind turbine drivetrains. The superconducting generator offers a number of advantages over alternative The green possibilities presented by superconductor-based technologies do models: it is lighter, reduces energy costs, can be scaled, eliminates the need for rare earth materials, and is already market-ready to meet rising demand. Speaking about this first-of-its-kind generator, AML Vice President for Development Vernon Prince states: “In the future, AML expects to see this solution fully leveraged for much bigger and greater value applications, such as addressing the full landscape of rotating machines – hydropower generators, ship propulsion, large industrial motors, synchronous condensers and turboelectric propulsion”. www.internationalinnovation.com 127 INTELLIGENCE AML SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND MAGNETICS OBJECTIVES To bring superconductivity and next-generation magnetic technologies into the commercial mainstream. PARTNERS US Department of Energy • National Renewable Energy Laboratory • NASA • Argonne National Laboratory Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates • Center for Advanced Power Systems University of Houston • Impact Innovation Alliance, Chile • Emerson Electric Company • Creare • Columbus Superconductor • Hyper Tech Research CONTACT Mark Senti Co-Founder and President AML Superconductivity and Magnetics 1720 Main Street, Building 4 Palm Bay Florida 32905 USA T +1 321 7287543 etx 14 E [email protected] www.amlsuperconductivity.com www.linkedin.com/company/1278797 http://bit.ly/AMLInnovation @AMLInnovation MARK SENTI is co-Founder and President of AML. A visionary leader with over 25 years of experience leading companies at the forefront of innovation and technology, he has led the strategic direction of the company since its inception, with responsibilities that include developing business strategies, IP strategies and joint ventures. He has also led collaborative relationships with NASA, the US Department of Defense, US Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, National High Magnetic Field Lab and major institutions. DR RAINER MEINKE is AML coFounder and Chief Scientist. He has more than 30 years of experience in physics and engineering, including all major accelerator systems, detector development for high energy physics experiments, and software development for experiment simulations and data analysis. He has worked in a leadership position at some of the most advanced accelerator facilities in the world. VERNON PRINCE is the General Manager of AML Energy. He has over 20 years of leadingedge manufacturing technology development in microelectronics and telecom device and module markets. Prince is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record as a founder of a number of technology companies, such as Optical Process Automation (OPA) and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Inc (AMTI). 128 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION not end there. Superconducting magnetic separation has been pioneered by AML as a potent water treatment, with applications including desalination; industrial water and sewage treatment; the purification of river water, landfill leachate and contaminated soils and ground water; the removal of arsenic from geothermal water; and oil spill containment. As an alternative to conventional water treatment solutions, superconducting magnetic separation offers higher throughput at a lower cost; reduces expenditure associated with land, personnel expenses and waste sludge processing; and can be introduced as a complement to existing systems. AML is now working alongside the Advanced Innovation Center of Chile and sustainability-focused social impact foundation Avina to further develop work in this area as part of the New Century Alliance. Additionally, AML is in the process of developing novel magnetic technologies for medical and aerospace applications. In terms of medicine, due to such technologies’ noninvasive properties, their potential to provide novel treatment and diagnostic avenues is significant. AML is therefore working to enable the next generation of precise, high-performance, magnetic-based medical devices. These could include charged particle therapy for the treatment of tumours; the use of novel magnetic field configurations for the removal of plaque from blood vessels; in-body navigation of diagnostic and therapeutic devices; targeted drug delivery; the use of magnetically induced electrical currents to stimulate the brain and peripheral nervous system; and the advancement of nextgeneration magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As for aerospace, AML technology has the potential to be utilised to overcome obstacles associated with travel in deep space – such as successfully shielding humans from dangerous space radiation. SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGICAL AND BUSINESS INNOVATION To ensure the rapid and successful application of these solutions to the market, AML works with visionary partner companies using an end-to-end application enhancement process known as the AML Perfect-FieldTM Application Development Process. From the very first step, this process eliminates the design constraints associated with conventional development methods by determining an application’s theoretically ‘perfect’ magnetic field and then working from there, rather than beginning the process influenced by the magnet configurations already available. AML then employs its CoilCADTM software – the world’s most advanced magnet design platform – to describe and optimise a complete 3D conductor path, determine all coil performance aspects and generate machine code for highly automated and precise manufacturing. This enables the generation of novel magnetic discoveries and the creation of innovative coil configurations that break new ground in terms of field shape, size, purity and efficiency. Advanced materials, such as superconductors and nanomaterials, can then be applied using AML’s unique magnet and manufacturing technologies. The Perfect-FieldTM process enables the generation of products that are capable of transforming industries and markets and are also fully optimised for size, weight, efficiency, capabilities, cost and environmental impact. All of this work takes place in AML’s high-tech manufacturing facility in Palm Bay, Florida, USA, and is supported by AML’s deep, layered intellectual property portfolio of existing and pending patents. Running in parallel with the Perfect-FieldTM process is the AML Rapid-TrackTM Relationship and Licensing Model. This Model pairs the technological innovations of the PerfectFieldTM process with business innovation to ensure the application’s commercial success, and comprises stages in assessment, rapid concept development, demonstration, product development, road-to-market and market launch. REVOLUTIONARY ROAD Overall, AML’s cutting-edge technologies are propelling forward applications that are sure to have significant social, economic and environmental impact across a wide range of fields. The company is ideally placed to bring about the next major technological revolution. In addition to being one of just a few companies worldwide with the requisite expertise and experience in this area, what truly places AML at the forefront is its ability to ensure its applications’ mainstream commercialisation – an ability that has so far been validated through partnership with world-leading institutions, including the US Department of Energy, NASA, Argonne National Laboratory and the United Arab Emirates’ Masdar Institute. With more exciting developments in the pipeline, as well as a world-class collaborating team, it looks like AML is closer than ever to achieving its mission of commercialising superconductivity on an international scale.
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