An Outlook of the Use of Cryogenic Electric Machines Onboard Aircraft

Abstract

The analysis was carried out for possible application of superconducting electric machines onboard of the aircraft. The following main trends for their use are uncovered. The first, i.e., an alternator with superconducting windings, is considered as a power supply for the onboard megawatt-class receivers. The second, i.e., a megawatt-class alternator, is considered as a power supply for superconducting electric drive of the aircraft engine propeller or fan. The third trend relates electric drives of kilowatt class with high-temperature superconducting bulk elements or foliate composites in the rotor. It is shown that the use of superconducting windings instead of resistive windings results in the reduction of specific mass of an electric machine. The peculiarities of using a gas turbine unit as a drive for powerful superconducting alternators and different methods of integration are considered. The trends are analyzed for decreasing the noise and concentration of harmful exhaust and the opportunity to make improvements by breaking “the turbine → reducer → propeller” chain and transition to the scheme “turbine → superconducting alternator → superconducting electric drive → propeller.” It is shown that both types of electric machines with superconducting winding and on the base of superconducting bulk ceramic materials or foliate composites with high critical temperature of transition are appropriate.