Saltar para o conteúdo principal

FCCNFCT Digital Services

Access the national information on scientific and technological funding in Portugal

Activity Funded

Coreless Superconducting Induction Machines for Maritime and Aircraft Applications

Máquinas de Indução Supercondutoras com Núcleo de ar para Aplicações Marítimas e Aeronáuticas

Reference
2023.11458.PEX
Project Start Date
2025-01-01
Project End Date
2026-06-30
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Engineering and technology
Funding Program
Concurso de Projetos Exploratórios em Todos os Domínios Científicos 2023

Abstract

The electrification of the industrial and transportation systems, identified as a key strategy in the sustainable energy transition, has been setting increasingly demanding specifications and challenges for energy conversion technologies [1], [2]. This goal led to the adoption of clear multipartisan energy and environmental policies, focusing not only on setting guidelines for public policy but also regulatory changes regarding the research, development and implementation of state-of-the-art technologies. Examples of EU’s commitment to this topic are the aviation research programs “CleanSky” and “CleanSky 2” acting as a catalyst for collaborations between industrial and research communities in developing sustainable aircraft technologies [3],[4]. In maritime transportation, recent projects regarding the development of electric ship propulsion also show the importance of this sector’s electrification to meet the target emissions [6]-[7]. Because of this commitment, the use of hydrogen has also been identified as a possible energy source or storage solution for energy and transportation systems. This is especially important in the current national strategy of Portugal, as a “sustainable pillar for the decarbonization of the economy” [8]. This conjecture creates the need for high-specific power and highly efficient electrical system components, capable of meeting these application’s demanding requirements, in a cost-effective approach compatible with short- and long-term goals. Regarding the development of high specific-power electrical machines, in the current state-of-the-art, two main current approaches are being considered: 1) using cryogenic cooling on electrical machines [10]-[12] and 2) developing superconducting (SC) electrical machines [13]-[15]. One example is NASA’s development of a 10MW cryogenic induction motor with conventional materials and a fully SC synchronous motor [16]. Some researchers also propose using liquified hydrogen (LH2) for aircraft applications, as a fuel and a cooling agent for SC machines [12],[17]. The use of cryogenic cooling with conventional electrical machines, without SC, has been applied in cryogenic propellant systems and pumping stations of natural gas (LNG) [18]-[21]. However, the specific power of these machines is still limited by the properties of the conventional materials and may not be compatible with all cryogenic fluids, because their losses may lead to the fluids’ evaporation and cavitation [22]. Regarding SC machines, the most explored type is SC field wound synchronous machines [23]-[24]. However, these require complex cryocoolers and a rotary connection for SC windings, limiting their application [6],[25]. Following this opportunity, we propose to explore the use of fully immersed SC induction machines, without iron core , to mitigate the limitation of the cryostat, rotary connections and seals, and magnetic saturation. This will ultimately contribute to the electrification of maritime and aircraft transportation. These applications present similar power levels and constraints and may include the presence of cryogenic fluids, such as LH2, LNG, or methane (CH4), either being transported or used as fuel, that can be used as coolants for electrical machines. This exploratory project's objectives are: To conceptualize and design novel air-core superconducting (SC) induction machines (IM), fully immersed in the cryogenic fluids , to achieve the high specific-power and efficiency targets of aircraft and maritime applications, and; Compare its performance against cryogenic conventional and iron-core SC IMs . The use of fully immersed IMs avoids the need for brushes to supply the rotor, and mitigates the limitation of a dedicated cryostat, due to its immersion in the environmental cryogenic liquid. The main challenge of SC IM is related to the need for alternated currents or magnetic fields in the SC, that originate non-negligible SC hysteric losses. This is critical for cryostats, however, when immersed in cryogenic fluids, this limitation can be mitigated. This project represents a consistent follow-up of the research done by this team in electrical machine design [34]-[40], and in cryogenic and SC machines [20],[33]-[34],[41]-[43]. In particular, our recent publications [10],[20],[44] analyze the performance improvement of IM in cryogenic environments and address preliminary exploration on the use of SC in their rotor. To accomplish these goals, the project will be divided into: 1) Development of electromechanical-thermal Finite Element models of IM with SC in the rotor and/or the stator, and with and without iron core. 2) Models’ calibration with experimental tests in SC tapes for different amplitudes and frequencies of applied current and magnetic fields. 3) Verify the developed models by performing experimental tests in a SC induction motor;            4) Comparative study analysis of SC air-core, SC iron-core and conventional cryogenic IMs.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica (IDMEC)

Other Institutions

  • Politecnico di Torino (POLITO)

Funding 49.267,06 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

49.267,06 €