The Superconducting Synchronous Condenser is a compact rotating synchronous machine operating through a step-up transformer without use of power electronic switching devices. The SSC currently under prototype testing at the PSA High Power Laboratory is an 8 MVAR, 3600 rpm unit with a 900,000 ampere-turn cryogenic rotor field and a 4,160 Volt, 3 phase stator output. This unit can be used for either 460 Volt or 4,160 Volt VAR correction or in ship power systems such as for the CVN-21 aircraft carrier where the output will be stepped up to 13,800 Volts at 60 Hz. Alternately the SSC can be stepped up to 23 kV or 38 kV potential for direct use in utility distribution. This is the first turbo-generator style SSC in the world with these type of ratings. The SSC has a power density rating of 1600 kVARs /ton for the first series of 5-15 MVAR units and the second production series for 20-60 MVAR has a power density approaching 2400 kVARs/ton. These power densities significantly exceed those of static capacitor banks.

Dyna-VAR machines provide volt-ampere-reactive (VAR) power to alternating current networks to cause the voltage and current to be more nearly in phase which allows a greater amount of real power to be transmitted for a given transmission line cable size. The SSC is based on PSA's proprietary HTS generator technology developed originally for magnetic levitation (Maglev) propulsion units. The new product line of 18 unit sizes will go on sale in May 2003 in 460 Volt, 4160 Volt and 13,800 Volt ratings.