Topology Optimization of a Fully Superconducting Air-core Motor for Electric Aircraft

Superconducting motors have great potential to achieve high power density and high efficiency in electric propulsion systems for aerospace applications. A new lightweight air-core topology for a fully superconducting motor is designed and optimized. The stator is made of yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) cable and has two sets of windings. These are spatially displaced radially and have a specific circumferential offset to cancel certain harmonics. The rotor is also constructed with YBCO cable. This paper focuses on the optimization of superconducting motor windings in terms of winding harmonics. The topology of the stator and rotor is designed through a series of analytical calculations and comparisons. Four superconducting motor topologies with different pole numbers are presented with detailed design for the stator and rotor windings. An illustration of how the harmonics reduction design methodology is applied is included. The analytical design is verified by a 2D finite element model of the superconducting motor using the COMSOL software. The topology optimization using analytical calculations can effectively reduce the superconductor motor design iterative process and time.