Superconducting Coils Boost Power in Electric Aircraft
Germany, Monday, 28 April 2025.
New research highlights superconducting coils’ potential to enhance energy efficiency in electric aircraft, despite higher initial losses, promising a significant leap in cryogenic power electronics.
Breakthrough in Cryogenic Power Electronics
Recent research has demonstrated that high-temperature superconducting (HTS) double pancake coils show promising potential for enhancing power density in electric aircraft applications. While the current designs exhibit higher initial losses, these HTS coils have proven to be more energy-dense than conventional inductors [1]. The technology operates at temperatures above 77 K (-196.2°C), making it viable for practical applications using liquid nitrogen cooling systems [4].
Optimizing Performance through Innovation
Scientists have made significant progress in reducing AC losses in HTS motors designed for electric aircraft propulsion. A breakthrough development involves the strategic placement of permeability flux diverters around the coils, which substantially decreases the magnetic field on the coil surface [2]. This advancement addresses one of the primary challenges in implementing superconducting technology in aviation applications, where weight and efficiency are crucial factors [1][2].
Future Implementation and Testing
The technology’s practical implementation is gaining momentum, with upcoming presentations scheduled at the MT29 conference in Boston from July 1-6, 2025 [7]. Researchers will present findings on critical current characteristics and performance metrics of REBCO tapes, essential components for developing electromagnetic devices [7]. These developments align with broader industry efforts to achieve the power-to-weight ratios necessary for efficient electric aircraft propulsion [2].
Challenges and Commercial Prospects
Despite promising advances, researchers acknowledge certain hurdles in the commercial deployment of HTS technology. The primary challenges include optimizing the working height and field cooling parameters to maximize driving force [8]. However, with successful demonstrations of HTS systems achieving power outputs of up to 1.5 kW in buck converter applications [1], the technology shows strong potential for revolutionizing electric aircraft propulsion systems [alert! ‘specific timeline for commercial deployment not provided in sources’].
sources
- ieeexplore.ieee.org
- ieeexplore.ieee.org
- iopscience.iop.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- indico.cern.ch
- www.sciencedirect.com