Lightweight Design of Fully Superconducting Motors for Electrical Aircraft Propulsion Systems

Terao, Yutaka; Seta, Akihisa; Ohsaki, Hiroyuki; Oyori, Hitoshi; Morioka, Noriko

doi:10.1109/tasc.2019.2902323

Cited by 55 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…However, it is still too heavy to be used for multi-megawatt electric propulsion [8]. In fact, a turbo-electric retrofit for a 100-seater aircraft requires an electric machine power-to-weight (PTW) ratio of at least 16 kW/kg [9], compatible with SCMs 20 kW/kg and beyond [10].…”

Section: Important Contributions To the Core Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Next-Generation Cryo-Electric Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: A Disruptive Superconducting Propulsion System Cooled by Onboard Cryogenic Fuels

Nøland

Hartmann

Mellerud

2022

EEE Ind. Electron. Mag.

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The idea of hydrogen-powered airplanes has recently attracted a revitalized push in the aviation sector to combat CO2 emissions. However, to also reduce, or even eliminate, non-CO2 emissions and contrails, the combination of hydrogen with all-electric solutions is undoubtedly the best option. This article explores the next wave of disruptive technological developments needed to scale up zero-emission aviation beyond 2035. With respect to conventional electrical propulsion, major breakthroughs will be needed in terms of reducing the voltage level while increasing system-level power density and overall efficiency. We show how a next-generation hydrogen-powered aircraft could take advantage of its onboard cryogenic fuels to cool the electrical components, enabling a cryo-electric superconducting drivetrain that could lead to extraordinary performances.

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Section: Important Contributions To the Core Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Next-Generation Cryo-Electric Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: A Disruptive Superconducting Propulsion System Cooled by Onboard Cryogenic Fuels

Nøland

Hartmann

Mellerud

2022

EEE Ind. Electron. Mag.

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“…Using a superconducting wire can reduce the weight of the machine owing to its high current capacity. Therefore, many research groups have studied superconducting rotating machines with a power density of 20 kW/kg [2] [3] [4]. We previously designed 10 MW superconducting synchronous generators and compared the field windings operating at 20 K and 64 K [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical simulation of a high-power density 10 MW REBCO superconducting synchronous generator cooled by sub-cooled LN₂ for low AC loss

Noda

Sasa

Miyazaki

et al. 2022

J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.

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Generators used in electric aircraft require a high-power density, and AC loss is also a significant problem. We designed 10 MW REBCO superconducting synchronous generators at 64 K to achieve a power density of 20 kW/kg and low AC loss. In this study, electromagnetic analyses were performed using finite element method software. Consequently, the thickness of the back yoke is 50 mm or less so that the generator can meet the target power density. The method of decreasing the magnetic field of the armature winding and increasing that of the field winding was used to effectively reduce the AC loss. As a result, the generator achieved a high-power density of 21.0 kW/kg, reducing the AC loss from over 600 kW to 415 kW.

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“…system is one of the promising solutions [4][5] and many research groups are investigating the electric aircraft with superconducting rotating machines [6][7][8][9][10]. However, the conventional rotating machines composed of iron cores and copper windings are too heavy to satisfy the stringent weight requirement of aircraft applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Evaluation of 1 kW-class Prototype REBCO Fully Superconducting Synchronous Motor Cooled by Subcooled Liquid Nitrogen for E-Aircraft

Sasa

Iwakuma

Yoshida

et al. 2021

IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.

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For the development of electric propulsion aircrafts with light weight, low emission and high efficiency, MW-class fully superconducting synchronous machines operating at liquid nitrogen temperature were conceptually designed with REBa2Cu3O7-δ (REBCO) superconducting tapes in our previous studies. To verify the actualization of the structure and cooling method, a 1 kW-class prototype fully superconducting synchronous motor was designed and constructed in this study. The fixed armature was cooled with subcooled liquid nitrogen at 65 K. The rotor was cooled with helium gas. The pole number was two for the future high speed operation. The applicability of the complicated casing structure with three chambers into fully superconducting motor was also investigated from the viewpoint of thermal insulation. The operations as a motor up to 500 rpm and a generator demonstrated that the designed structure and cooling method were reasonable and effective for cooling the fixed armature and rotating field windings.

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Lightweight Design of Fully Superconducting Motors for Electrical Aircraft Propulsion Systems

Cited by 55 publications

References 16 publications

Next-Generation Cryo-Electric Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: A Disruptive Superconducting Propulsion System Cooled by Onboard Cryogenic Fuels

Next-Generation Cryo-Electric Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: A Disruptive Superconducting Propulsion System Cooled by Onboard Cryogenic Fuels

Numerical simulation of a high-power density 10 MW REBCO superconducting synchronous generator cooled by sub-cooled LN₂ for low AC loss

Experimental Evaluation of 1 kW-class Prototype REBCO Fully Superconducting Synchronous Motor Cooled by Subcooled Liquid Nitrogen for E-Aircraft

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Lightweight Design of Fully Superconducting Motors for Electrical Aircraft Propulsion Systems

Cited by 55 publications

References 16 publications

Next-Generation Cryo-Electric Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: A Disruptive Superconducting Propulsion System Cooled by Onboard Cryogenic Fuels

Next-Generation Cryo-Electric Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: A Disruptive Superconducting Propulsion System Cooled by Onboard Cryogenic Fuels

Numerical simulation of a high-power density 10 MW REBCO superconducting synchronous generator cooled by sub-cooled LN2 for low AC loss

Experimental Evaluation of 1 kW-class Prototype REBCO Fully Superconducting Synchronous Motor Cooled by Subcooled Liquid Nitrogen for E-Aircraft

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Numerical simulation of a high-power density 10 MW REBCO superconducting synchronous generator cooled by sub-cooled LN₂ for low AC loss