Fully superconducting machine for electric aircraft propulsion: study of AC loss for HTS stator

Fully superconducting machines provide the high power density required for future electric aircraft propulsion. However, superconducting windings generate AC losses in AC electrical machine environments. These AC losses are difficult to eliminate at low temperatures, and they add an extra burden to the aircraft cooling system. Due to the heavy cooling penalty, AC loss in the HTS stator is one of the key topics in HTS machine design. In order to evaluate the AC loss of superconducting stator windings in a rotational machine environment, we designed and built a novel axial-flux high temperature superconducting (HTS) machine platform. The AC loss measurement is based on the calorimetric boiling-off of liquid nitrogen. Both total AC loss and magnetisation loss in the HTS stator are measured under the condition of a rotational magnetic field. This platform represents a key element in studying ways to minimise AC losses in an HTS stator, in order to maximise the efficiency of fully HTS machines.