Presentation Information
[AP6-01-INV]High-Speed HTS Generators for Airborne Application
*James Storey1, Swarn Kalsi2, Kent Hamilton1, Mohammad Siamaki1, Dylan Guja1, Eilish Baine1, Bill Heffernan3, Matthew Pearce4, Nic Rogers Rehn1, Grant Lumsden1, Adam Francis1, Rodney Badcock1 (1. Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), 2. Kalsi Green Power Systems (United States of America), 3. University of Canterbury (New Zealand), 4. University of Auckland (New Zealand))
Keywords:
Homopolar machine,Generator,REBCO
Unless dramatic improvements in battery technology are achieved, large electric aircraft will need to generate electricity on board. One proposed solution is a hybrid turboelectric scheme in which a gas turbine, possibly burning hydrogen, drives an electric generator that provides power to propulsive electric motors.
Superconducting AC homopolar machines are a high technology-readiness-level candidate for the generator. Their high rotor speeds enable direct connection to a gas turbine, eliminating the need for a gearbox, leading to reductions in weight and maintenance and improving reliability.
In recent years we have built and tested a subscale prototype featuring a flux-pumped REBCO HTS field coil incorporating optical fiber-based temperature sensing, at speeds up to 18000 rpm. Lessons learned from this research has now led to an improved homopolar generator concept featuring dual HTS field coils, one at each end of the machine, and a mass-optimized rotor consisting of discrete pole pieces. This design produces a calculated rated power of 5.5 MW with 97.6% efficiency at 8000 rpm, corresponding to a power density of 3.5 kW/kg.
Superconducting AC homopolar machines are a high technology-readiness-level candidate for the generator. Their high rotor speeds enable direct connection to a gas turbine, eliminating the need for a gearbox, leading to reductions in weight and maintenance and improving reliability.
In recent years we have built and tested a subscale prototype featuring a flux-pumped REBCO HTS field coil incorporating optical fiber-based temperature sensing, at speeds up to 18000 rpm. Lessons learned from this research has now led to an improved homopolar generator concept featuring dual HTS field coils, one at each end of the machine, and a mass-optimized rotor consisting of discrete pole pieces. This design produces a calculated rated power of 5.5 MW with 97.6% efficiency at 8000 rpm, corresponding to a power density of 3.5 kW/kg.