American Superconductor Releases PM-125 PowerModule

American Superconductor Corp. (Westborough, MA) announced the commercial release of its 125kW PowerModule (PM-125). The PM-125 is a modular power electronic switch that is designed to replace conventional power converters, inverters and related auxiliary components with a single, integrated electronic device. It is programmable for power switching, modulation and control in a wide array of applications, including fuel cells, wind turbines, solar cells, microturbines, flywheels and uninterruptible power supplies.

The PM-125 PowerModule is a stand-alone device that integrates power electronics, embedded controls, power supplies, cooling capability and support functions into a single, compact, programmable switch. It is based on a proprietary printed circuit board design that allows assembly of the switch by automated wave-soldering techniques. Designed with an open architecture, the PowerModule allows OEMs to choose between proprietary device control software or pre-installed software provided by American Superconductor for their specific application.

“The PM-125 is the first in our new line of proprietary power electronic switches and is a direct response to customer needs,” said Dr. Greg Yurek, CEO. “We expect to expand the product line with the release of the PowerModule with power ratings from 50kW to 1,000kW per module by March 2002. The modular design, which includes programmable controls and fiber-optic communications, allows us to create power switches with ratings from 50kW to tens of Megawatts at a low price point.”