Pictures of the Future    Spring 2006

In Brief

^? Motors are becoming more powerful while being built with less—and less expensive—materials, allowing them to be smaller in size. Siemens has developed electric motors that have more than doubled the torque as previous versions, although they are the same size. Combination drives rotate at the same time that they move in a linear direction. A new motor designed for use as a generator on ships is equipped with superconducting coils, which helps to save space   ^{more at Trends and Superconducting Generators}

^? Drive systems come in a wide range, from specialized devices built in small lots to motors with annual production runs of more than a million units. Their output ranges from just a few watts to 100 MW; generators at power plants can produce 1,000 MW. Motor speeds range from a few revolutions per minute to 15,000 rpm   ^more

^? Siemens has acquired German gearbox and drive systems manufacturer Flender and the U.S. company Robicon, which specializes in converters for large-scale drive systems in the oil, gas, and water industries   ^more

^? Variable-speed drives use a frequency converter, which means the motor speed is independent of the network frequency. Depending on the facility in question, this can lead to energy savings of between 30 and 50 %. Switching to such converters pays off in two years at the most   
^{more at Trends and Industrial Motors}

^? Besides developing high-performance electronics for hybrid vehicles, Siemens is testing an electronic transmission and building a hybrid sports coupe for demonstrations. Siemens also offers its Velaro concept for high-speed trains and is developing a direct drive for local transport that is more efficient, more compact and has a longer service life   
^{more at Hybrid Drives and Rail Propulsion Systems}

^? Siemens researchers are developing alternative drive systems with piezo ceramics, plastic, and nickel-titanium alloys. By applying a voltage or changing the temperature, these materials can be reshaped   ^more