Design considerations for fully superconducting synchronous motors aimed at future electric aircraft

Abstract

Electric propulsion for long distance aircraft requires very high power densities likely only possible with superconducting machines. There have been a number of superconducting motor design and prototype studies but very few that are fully superconducting. Radial design topologies for the stator and rotor geometry, are qualitatively compared in the context of fully superconducting motors aimed at electric aircraft and previously published superconducting motor prototypes. AC magnetic fields experienced by superconducting components leads to AC loss, which lowers efficiency and imposes a cryogenic heat penalty. The role of stator teeth on ripple fields experienced by superconducting components has been modelled to illustrate the interdependence of AC fields experienced by the stator and rotor.