Cryogenic motor/generator and motor test stand. Anticipated motor parameters: length, 35 in.; diameter, 16 in.; weight, 279 lb; power, 450 hp; speed, 6000 rpm; 480 V; three phases.
Long description of figure.
With growing concerns about global warming, there is a need to develop pollution-free aircraft. One approach is to use hydrogen-fueled aircraft that use fuel cells or turbogenerators to produce electric power to drive the electric motors that turn the aircraft’s propulsive fans. Hydrogen fuel would be carried as a liquid, stored at its boiling point of 20.5 K (-422.5 °F). Conventional electric motors, however, are too heavy for aircraft propulsion. We need to develop high-power, lightweight electric motors (high-power-density motors).
One approach is to increase the conductivity of the wires by cooling them with liquid hydrogen (LH2). This would allow superconducting rotors with an ironless core. In addition, the motor could use very pure aluminum or copper, substances that have low resistances at cryogenic temperatures. A preliminary design of a 450-hp LH2-cooled electric motor was completed and is being manufactured by a contractor. This motor will be tested at the NASA Glenn Research Center and will be used to test different superconducting materials such as magnesium diboride (MgB2). The motor will be able to operate at speeds of up to 6000 rpm.
This motor will serve as a realistically sized prototype that will be representative of motors used in general-aviation and transport-sized aircraft. In addition, it will be able to be integrated into ground-based propulsion system demonstrators being developed at NASA and to serve as either a motor or as a generator, powered by either hydrogen-burning turbines or fuel cells. This work was supported by the Alternate Energy Foundation Technologies (AEFT) Project.
U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Vehicle Technology Directorate at Glenn contact: Albert F. Kascak, 216-433-6024, Albert.F.Kascak@grc.nasa.gov
Glenn contacts: Dr. Gerald V. Brown, 216-433-6047, Gerald.V.Brown@nasa.gov; and Jeffrey J. Trudell, 216-433-5303, Jeffrey.J.Trudell@nasa.gov
Authors: Albert F. Kascak, Jeffrey J. Trudell, and Dr. Gerald V. Brown
Headquarters program office: OAT
Programs/Projects: AEFT
Last updated: July 21, 2005 2:05 PM
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