Low AC-Loss Superconducting Cable Technology for Electric Aircraft Propulsion

Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion (TeDP) in all-electric aircraft requires high power density and high efficiency superconducting components. Superconductors especially MgB2 are being investigated for superconducting stators for motors and generators designed for new airborne platforms. These applications require light-weight, high-performance superconductors that are stable, available in long piece-length, and have high operating temperature. Funded by NASA Hyper Tech has had recent breakthroughs in developing low AC low MgB2 superconductor wires and cables for superconducting stators using cutting-edge superconductor strand architecture designs. This is the world’s first, high temperature, low AC loss superconductor wires and cables. Superconducting cable technology appears to be the best route for producing conductors with higher current carrying capability and with significantly lower AC losses to enable more efficient stator configurations, resulting in reducing the weight, size, and cost of a TeDP system. For this NASA SBIR Phase II E program our objective is to use the low AC loss MgB2 superconducting wires and cables that have been developed in the SBIR Phase II and make test coils for NASA that can be evaluated in the AC loss rotating test rig developed by NASA.

Aircraft power components (motors, generators, cables), transformers, inductors, power conditioning equipment, ADR coils, magnetic bearings, actuators, MHD magnets, spacecraft electric propulsion systems (e.g. MPD and VASIMR thruster), magnetic shielding for spacecraft structures, magnetic launch devices and other applications where light weight power components are required.

Superconducting transformers, motors, generators, fault current limiters, DC transmission cables, 4 to 20 MW wind and wave turbine generators, aircraft turbo-generators, offshore oil platform motors, marine propulsion and generation systems, portable emergency power systems, and conduction cooled (liquid helium bath free) 1.5T and 3.0T MRI systems.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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