HTS machines as enabling technology for all-electric airborne vehicles

Abstract

Environmental protection has now become paramount as evidence mounts to support thethesis of human activity-driven global warming. A global reduction of the emissions ofpollutants into the atmosphere is therefore needed and new technologies have to beconsidered. A large part of the emissions come from transportation vehicles, including cars,trucks and airplanes, due to the nature of their combustion-based propulsion systems. Ourteam has been working for several years on the development of high power densitysuperconducting motors for aircraft propulsion and fuel cell based power systems foraircraft. This paper investigates the feasibility of all-electric aircraft based on currentlyavailable technology. Electric propulsion would require the development of highpower density electric propulsion motors, generators, power management anddistribution systems. The requirements in terms of weight and volume of thesecomponents cannot be achieved with conventional technologies; however, the use ofsuperconductors associated with hydrogen-based power plants makes possiblethe design of a reasonably light power system and would therefore enable thedevelopment of all-electric aero-vehicles. A system sizing has been performedboth for actuators and for primary propulsion. Many advantages would comefrom electrical propulsion such as better controllability of the propulsion, higherefficiency, higher availability and less maintenance needs. Superconducting machinesmay very well be the enabling technology for all-electric aircraft development.