The Path to Zero-Emission Flight
Cryogenic HTS motors for electric aircraft propulsion achieve 20+ kW/kg — an astounding 4x higher power density than best-in-class conventional electric motors. To make commercial electric aviation a reality, weight must be drastically minimized.
For a 180-seat commercial aircraft replacing conventional turbofans, an HTS propulsion motor weighs approximately 400 kg compared to 2,000+ kg for a conventional electric equivalent. REBCO windings in the motor stator carry 1,000+ Amps at near-zero electrical loss.
Key Advantages
- Massive weight reduction
- Extreme power density (20+ kW/kg)
- Efficient cryogenic integration
- Enabling architecture for large e-aircraft
Performance Metrics
Cryogenic Integration
A common concern with superconducting motors is the requirement for a cryogenic cooling system. However, for large aircraft architectures (like those utilizing liquid hydrogen fuels), the cryocooling is already present, making HTS a natural synergy.
Even for battery-electric planes relying on cryocoolers, the massive reduction in motor stator and rotor weight far exceeds the added weight of the cooling system. Our robust REBCO tapes enable operating temperatures around 50-65K, reachable with compact, flight-weight Stirling or Brayton cycle coolers.
Global Players & Exploration
NASA X-57 & ASCEND
NASA's research initiatives heavily feature fully superconducting, high-efficiency powertrain architectures designed to enable single-aisle commercial electric aircraft.
Airbus ASCEND
Airbus is currently ground-testing cryogenic superconducting powertrains, leveraging liquid hydrogen to simultaneously fuel fuel-cells and cool HTS cabling/motors.
Rolls-Royce UltraFan
Exploratory studies on integrating multi-megawatt superconducting generators into modern geared turbofans to power hybrid-electric architectures.
Designing Next-Gen Aero Powertrains?
Incorporate zero-resistance, high-critical-current REBCO tapes into your flight-weight motor designs.
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