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.
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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
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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).
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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.