Cryogen-Free Ultra-High Field Superconducting Electric Motor

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Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$5,754,096
Location:
Champaign, Illinois
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
08/05/2022 - 08/04/2025
Website:

Technology Description:

Hinetics will develop and demonstrate a high-power density electric machine to enable electrified aircraft propulsion systems up to 10 MW and beyond. Hinetics’ technology uses a superconducting machine design that eliminates the need for cryogenic auxiliary systems yet maintains low total mass. The innovative concept features a sub-20 K Stirling-cycle cooler integrated with a low-loss rotor to maintain the SC coils below 30 K. This design could enable a 10 MW, 3000 RPM aircraft propulsion motor weighing less than 250 kilograms that rejects up to 10 times less total heat to the ambient environment (>99% efficiency) and magnetic fields that are an order of magnitude higher than conventional machines. A novel coil suspension and torque transfer system cuts the cryogenic heat load by a factor of 10 to streamline the cryogenic design without the need for external coolers. The higher efficiency eases aircraft-level thermal management challenges with a factor of six to ten reduction in total heat exhausted to the ambient.

Potential Impact:

This technology can enable electrification of commercial transport class aircraft with a range of power sources (batteries, fuel cells, turbo-electric with Jet-A, and hybrids) to help meet emissions targets set by the aviation industry and global agreements.

Security:

The new technology would offer practical, high-power (>1 MW) electric propulsion systems for aircraft, establishing U.S. leadership in the fast-emerging low-emission aircraft market.

Environment:

Along with light-weight energy storage and safe high-voltage distribution, high-power density generators and motors are essential for a successful transition to hybrid electric propulsion and more electric aircraft systems, which offer greater efficiency, lower emissions, and reduced noise.

Economy:

The proposed technology will enable the expected strong demand for hybrid electric aircraft in the next 20 years.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Peter de Bock
Project Contact:
Thanatheepan Balachandran
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
theepan@hinetics.com

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Release Date:
02/11/2021