Design and Characteristic Analysis of an Axial Flux High-Temperature Superconducting Motor for Aircraft Propulsion

In line with global environmental regulations, the demand for eco-friendly and highly efficient aircraft propulsion systems is increasing. The combination of axial flux motors and superconductors could be a key technology used to address these needs. In this paper, an axial flux high temperature superconducting (HTS) motor for aircraft propulsion was designed and its characteristics were analyzed. A 2G HTS wire with high magnetic flux characteristic was used for the field winding of the 120 kW axial flux HTS motor, and the rotational speed and rated voltage of the motor were 2000 rpm and 220 V, respectively. The axial flux HTS motor implements a revolving armature type for solid cooling of the HTS field coil. The electromagnetic and thermal features of the motor were analyzed and designed utilizing a 3D finite element method program. The HTS coil was maintained at the target temperature by effectively designing the current lead and cooling system to minimize heat loss. These results can be effectively used in the design of propulsion systems for large commercial aircraft in the future as well as for the design of small aircraft with less than 4 seats.