AC Loss of Superconducting Materials for Very High Density Motors and Generators of Hybrid-Electric Aircraft

Superconducting windings are enabling for the development of the highest power density motors and generators for aircraft use. It is presently estimated that motors with normal conductors can reach a future limit of at best 20 kW/kg. On the other hand, superconducting winding are estimated to be able to produce more than double this, at 45 kW/kg. Superconducting windings can carry very large current densities (10 kA/mm² Je and more) and can generate much higher winding fields (even as high as 3-8 T in some designs), but generate losses in the windings which must be removed at cryogenic temperatures. Here we compare loss values under realistic design constraints for the two most appropriate conductors for motor-generator applications; MgB₂ and YBCO coated conductor. MgB₂ is available in the form of wires (about 1 mm OD), and coated conductor either as tapes (4 mm×0.1 mm) or wire-sized cables (2-3 mm OD). Here comparisons are made with best-of-class MgB₂ and YBCO conductors where various loss contributions are incorporated, including applied fields, applied currents, and interaction terms. It is shown that present day MgB₂ conductors are usable for motors and generators with sufficient attention to cooling design, and that filament numbers of 10-100 in a 2 mm wide YBCO tape will make coated conductors a viable candidate for use. Specific loss values are very dependent on rotational speed, number of poles, and conductor design, but detailed and specific losses are given for frequencies of 200-400 Hz and field amplitudes from 0.5-4 T, as well as scaling rules to extend these regimes.