High Temp Superconducting (HTS) coils

Request for Information

Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) is the Navy’s experts in the development, performance, and characterization of high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils and related technology. Recently, NSWCPD has begun exploring potential applications utilizing alternating current (AC) vice the direct current (DC) operations that have been previously explored.

When AC is introduced two issues arise.

1. Under AC operating conditions the superconductor begins to generate heat that adds to the burden on the cryogenic system. The exact amount of heat is dependent on the frequency, current, and coil geometry and may not be simple to calculate. This makes designing the cryogenic package challenging.
2. As frequency increases for some constant current, so too does the voltage required to drive the signal, despite not increasing its amplitude. This quickly can become taxing on the current injection system.

These problems are exacerbated by the frequencies the Navy is interested in, which is several hundred Hz to single digit kHz. There is minimal information describing superconducting coils being operated in this frequency band.

The Navy is requesting information on the feasibility to manufacture a coil system using the following parameters listed in ATTACHMENT 01.

Additionally, the following constraints/details should be considered in addressing the feasibility to manufacture a coil system:

• A Threshold shipping volume based on the footprint of a flatbed truck, 20x8x8 ft

Objective shipping volume is based on interior dimensions of an all-access ISO container, 18x5.75x5.75 ft

• The Power factor from the source will be greater than .9
• The cryogenics system:
  • may use gaseous cryogens, provided it is a closed loop system.
  • may not permit new cryogen to be added once cool down commences (i.e. closed-loop cooling)
  • shall minimize the use of magnetically susceptible materials in the magnet design (i.e. Coil support structure, cryostat, etc.)
  • shall be operational in its self-produced magnetic field
  • shall not permit cryogen bath solutions

Finally, as the Navy is seeking information about what can/will be completed by industry, please provide your responses to the following questions as:

1. What challenges are seen with any of the raw materials in HTS components? E.g., are there raw material shortages; unreliable suppliers; legal/regulatory concerns with potential suppliers?
    
2. What are the estimated lead times for delivering the components needed?
    
3. What are the anticipated heat loads, and what cryogenic system can manage them?
    
4. What is the requisite driving voltage for the coil and can current AC power supply systems provide this voltage at the requisite frequency?
    
5. What are the overall power demands for each of the main sub-components (the coil, the current injection system, and the cryogenic piece) for the AC coil system?

When responding to this Request, please submit the following:

(1) Statement providing the Company Name, Company Address, CAGE Code, points of contact including name, phone number, and email address.

(2) Prior/current corporate experience and/or experience fabricating or manufacturing HTS system components, including contract or Purchase Order number, organization supported, indication of whether as a prime or subcontractor, contract values, and Government point of contact with current telephone number and email address.

(3) Prior/current corporate experience and/or experience fabricating, manufacturing, and operating alternating current based superconducting coils at frequencies greater than 100 Hz. This includes contracts or Purchas Order number, organization supported, indication of as a prime or subcontractor, contract values, and Government point of contact with current telephone number and email address. Unless prohibited by these contracts please include the range of frequencies (within 100 Hz) and the peak current (within 10 A).

Proprietary data will be protected when so designated. Acknowledgement of receipt will not be made. Availability of any potential formal solicitation would be announced separately.

Note: THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL OR ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SOLICITATION. The requested information is for planning purposes and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. All information and data received in response to the sources sought marked or designated as corporate proprietary information will be fully protected and held in strict confidence.

Responses: Responses to this Sources Sought notice are due no later than 11:00 AM (EASTERN) on 20 JUNE 2024. Unclassified responses shall be submitted via e-mail to Brandon Mormello (brandon.r.mormello.civ@us.navy.mil).  Phone inquiries will NOT be accepted.