Propulsion, electrification & superconductivity
The Division of Aerospace Sciences has expertise and experience in the study of electrically powered aircraft. Our team works on integrating superconducting and cryogenic technologies, hydrogen, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques into future modern aviation.
Superconductivity, combined with cryogenic engineering, advances electric aircraft powertrain and propulsion systems compared to conventional counterparts - reliability, stability, compactness, efficiency, much lower losses, lighter weight - all of which pave the way for future green aviation. In addition, artificial intelligence techniques will be implemented in the real-time condition monitoring of powertrain components, enhancing their reliability and promoting the highest safety standards; this exhibits great advantages compared to conventional techniques.
We conduct high quality research for the electric aircraft powertrain, including novel propulsion systems, protection and fault current limitation solutions, cryogenic power electronics, and H2 powered aircraft. Associated research activities cover design, modelling and simulation, hardware implementation and prototype demonstration and testing.
In addition, there is extensive research experience in the team of components and powertrain systems. Electric aircraft systems have been identified worldwide by governments and industrial organisations as a critical future aerospace technology, due to their significant contribution to realizing zero emission aviation. We conduct research funded by both research councils and industry in the areas of aerospace companies.
Research topics
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Electrification and cryo-electrification of powertrain and drivetrain components
We focus on electrification and cryo-electrification of powertrain components of future transportation applications, including aircraft. These powertrain components are including but not limited to fault current limiters, bus bars, cables, machines, motors and generators, and transformers.
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Artificial Intelligence for superconducting powertrain
Implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques for optimal design and condition monitoring of superconducting powertrain components in future cryo-electrified aircraft.
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Novel propulsion systems and options
We conduct research on fully electric, hybrid electric, fully superconducting, and partially superconducting propulsion system with and without integration of liquid hydrogen or fuel cell scenarios.
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Modeling and simulation of electric aircraft powertrain
Electric devices of powertrain and propulsion systems in an electric or more-electric aircraft can be modelled using analytical approaches including equivalent circuit modelling, and numerical approaches, such as finite element modelling.
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Protection & fault limitation solutions
Proposing novel fault tolerant and fault current limitation performances for electric aircraft including superconducting fault current limiter, superconducting circuit breaker, hybrid power electronic current limiter, among others. We conducted research and industrial funded project to design, develop and demonstrating superconducting fault current limiters and fault tolerant superconducting transformers.
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Multi-physics coupled modelling for superconducting applications
Superconducting applications have a complex multi-physics coupling, including electrical, thermal, magnetic, and mechanical, etc. Advanced models are required to precisely simulate and analyse these behaviours. We have extensive research and project experience in implementing finite element based numerical models with H formulation and T-A formulation for superconducting applications. In addition, we developed multi-physical equivalent circuit models for superconducting cables, fault current limiters, and machines in house.
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Cryogenic power electronics
In the future, electric and hydrogen-based aircrafts are highly likely to have liquid hydrogen as coolant and fuel on board. Therefore, superconducting and cryogenic powertrain will be enabled. Having powertrain components in cryogenic temperature will demand power electronics converters to operate at cryogenic temperature, to reduce the thermal leakage and increase efficiency. We have strong background at cryogenic engineering and operating devices at low temperature.
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H2 powered aircraft
In the future, electric and hydrogen-based aircrafts are highly likely to have liquid hydrogen as coolant and fuel on board. This will help realizing zero emission aircraft commercially. In addition, this will enable using superconducting power train for future aircraft, in both propulsion and power system level. Our expertise in design and development of superconducting propulsion and powertrain components will place us in the frontline of realizing the technology for future aviation.
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Novel materials for electric powertrain devices
Using novel insulation and conductor material, such as aluminium, cuponal, superconductors in powertrain devices of an electric aircraft.
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