Next Generation More-Electric Aircraft: A Potential Application for HTS Superconductors

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 1055 - 1068
• Main Authors: Luongo, C.A., Masson, P.J., Nam, T., Mavris, D., Kim, H.D., Brown, G.V., Waters, M., Hall, D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-06-2009; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Aerospace engineering; Air traffic control; Aircraft; Aircraft industry; Aircraft propulsion; Applied sciences; Aviation; Density; Electric propulsion; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical machines; Electromagnets; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; High temperature superconductors; Miscellaneous; NASA; Space technology; Superconducting device noise; Superconducting magnets; superconducting motor; Superconductivity; Superconductors; Sustainability; Various equipment and components; Power density; Electric potential; Aeronautics; Superconducting machines; Sustainable development; Avionics; Superconducting motors; Electrical propulsion; superconducting motor; Feasibility; Electric motor; electric propulsion; Aircraft; High temperature superconductor
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2009.2019021

Sustainability in the aviation industry calls for aircraft that are significantly quieter and more fuel efficient than today's fleet. Achieving this will require revolutionary new concepts, in particular, electric propulsion. Superconducting machines offer the only viable path to achieve the power densities needed in airborne applications. This paper outlines the main issues involved in using superconductors for aeropropulsion. We review our investigation of the feasibility of superconducting electric propulsion, which integrate for the first time, the multiple disciplines and areas of expertise needed to design electric aircraft. It is shown that superconductivity is clearly the enabling technology for the more efficient turbo-electric aircraft of the future.