Challenges and Opportunities in Next-Gen Cryogenically Cooled Electric Propulsion Systems

UKMagSoc

Sep 25th 2024 - Sep 25th 2024

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Updated10.9.24

Electrification, whether full or hybrid, is essential for zero-carbon future transportation. However, current electric propulsion systems are too heavy and inefficient. Conventional cooling with air, water, and oil is limited by heat transfer properties. For hydrogen-powered aircraft, combining electric and cryogenic fuel systems offers potential. Liquid hydrogen (~20K) can reduce resistive losses and improve efficiency, but challenges remain in material behaviour, thermodynamics, and system design.

This seminar will explore cryogenic coolant applications in electric propulsion systems, focusing on conventional windings (copper or aluminium, non-superconducting). Topics will include the liquid hydrogen supply chain, the cryogenic behaviour of electric propulsion components and the design of cryogenically cooled electrical propulsion system. The latest developments in cryogenically cooled electrical machines such as cryogenic pumps will also be discussed.

VENUE

Raleigh Room, The Jubilee Hotel and Conferences

Triumph Road

Nottingham NG8 1DH

TOUR

To be able to join the tour, you will need to register by 17 September 24. We will require your name and affiliation.

DRAFT PROGRAMME

The event will run from 09:00-17:00 (UK time) and will include talks and a tour.

TRAVEL

By Car

Use the postcode to NG8 1BB which will take you to the main entrance. On arrival, you will need to find somewhere to park. Please view parking instructions and map below.

By Train

The venue is approximately 4 miles away from Nottingham train station and only 2 miles from Beeston train station. Nottingham’s tram system is accessible from both stations, which will take you directly to the university park campus.

By Plane

You can fly into East Midlands Airport via the M1, which is just 12 miles away

PARKING

There is a pay and display car park available close to the Conference centre. Please view campus map below to find the closest car park.

ACCOMMODATION

There is accommodation on site at the University of Nottingham Campus. These are:

The Jubilee Hotel and Conferences

1 Triumph Road, Lenton,, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG8 1DH, United Kingdom

The Orchard Hotel

University Park 1, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 2RJ, United Kingdom

Room availability can be seen on their website here. There are no rooms on hold for this event, nor a special rate so please book directly as you would normally.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Please let us know as soon as possible if you have any dietary requirements we need to be aware of.

DRESS CODE

The dress code for the event is business attire / smart casual

CONTINUING CONTACT / GDPR

Please note, by providing contact details during registration, you authorise us to

use these contact details to let you know details of this event, and
add your contact details to our contact database to let you know about future events that may be of interest.

Please let us know at enquiries@ukmagsoc.org at any time if you do not wish to be contacted in this way. Also, we can remove you from our contact schedule at any point in the future.

We will also be taking photos at the event. If you do not wish to have your photo taken during the event, please contact events@ukmagsoc.org

PHOTOGRAPHY

We will also be taking photos at the event. If you do not wish to have your photo taken during the event, please contact events@ukmagsoc.org

Supported by

Sponsors

Speakers

Liquid Hydrogen Taking Flight – The Key Research Challenges to Enabling Liquid Hydrogen Commercial Aircraft
by Huw Edwards of Aerospace Technology Institute

An overview of the key research challenges to enabling liquid hydrogen commercial aircraft and the activities within the Hydrogen Capability Network to address these.

Metrology for Magnetic Materials at Operational Conditions
by Daniel Brunt of NPL

The push towards electrification and greener technologies will see an unprecedented uptake in electric machines and subsequently magnetic materials. To achieve the greatest efficiencies, it’s imperative to have accurate data at conditions representative of those under operation. In this presentation I give an overview of the work we’re doing to take measurements from standard lab-based measurements and perform them at operational conditions, including measurements down to cryogenic temperatures.

Electric Machines in High Power Propulsion Systems - Applications, Challenges and Potential
by Rafal Sokolowski of Astron Systems Ltd

Building on an architecture designed to maximise system lifetime and reusability, Astron Systems have built and tested high power non-superconducting electric machines to power rocket engines. CTO Rafal Sokolowski shares the experience of R&D work on these machines for commercial purposes.

Basics and Challenges of Developing Cryogenic Drive Inverter Systems for Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft
by Christian Bentheimer of Fraunhofer IISB

Cryogenic technologies will be a key enabler for the high-power electrification of future hydrogen-powered aircraft. It will lead to performance improvements of the propulsion system, translating into significant weight and fuel saving potential. Developing cryogenic drive inverter systems for hydrogen-powered aircraft involves creating advanced power electronics that can operate at extremely low temperatures down to 77K. A brief description of the behaviour of semiconductors (Si, SiC, GaN), passive components, and integrated circuits at cryogenics temperatures is given. Key challenges encompass managing thermal stresses, and ensuring material compatibility at cryogenic temperatures. Additionally, designing compact, lightweight systems that can fit within the aircraft's constraints while maintaining high reliability and performance is critical for successful implementation.

The H2GEAR Hyperconducting Hydrogen Electric Aircraft Powertrain
by Vicente Climente-Alarcon of GKN Aerospace

The ATI-funded H2GEAR project aims at designing, building, and testing a ground demonstrator featuring a fuel-cell hybrid electric aircraft (FCHEA) propulsion system powered and cooled by liquid hydrogen. Now in its latter stages, this contribution will present the hyperconducting cryogenically-cooled electric power system developed within the project. This newly devised technology will be compared to other possible system configurations that utilize either superconducting materials or higher voltage equipment. This comparison will be carried out on several notional commercial aircraft designs, showing the advantages and remaining challenges of the hyperconducting approach. The presentation will conclude with an insight on developing experimental work.

Cooling Techniques for Cryogenically Cooled Electrical Machines
by Fengyu Zhang of University of Nottingham

Cooling methods are critical in the design of electrical machines, in particular for the cryogenically cooled electrical machines, where the machine components are separated into cryogenic and non-cryogenic temperatures. This talk will provide an overview of alternative cooling solutions and recommendations for the development of future cryogenic electrical machines.

Design and modeling of high-speed induction machines for submerged cryogenic pumps
by Marco Biasion of ABB Corporate Research Center Sweden

This talk discusses the methodologies for the analysis and design of high-speed induction machines for submerged cryogenic pumps. Attention is paid to the characterization of electric steels at cryogenic temperature, the electromechanical and thermal modeling of cryogenic induction machines as well as the definition of general guidelines for their design. A case study is presented addressing the design of a three-phase, 15 kW, 13500 rpm induction machine for single-stage submerged cryogenic pumps.

Programme

Time	Session Title	Session Host
09:00	Registration opens
09:50	Welcome	Chair
10:00	Introduction and cooling techniques	Fengyu Zhang, University of Nottingham
10:30	Thermal fluics and cryogenic materials characteristics	Huw Edwards, ATI
11:00	The H2GEAR Hyperconducting Hydrogen Electric Aircraft Powertrain	Vicente Climente-Alarcon, GKN Aerospace
11:30	Break
12:00	Magnetic Properties of steels at cryogenic temperatures for electric motors	Daniel Brunt, NPL
12:30	Basics and Challenges of Developing Cryogenic Drive Inverter Systems for Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft	Christian Bentheimer, Fraunhofer IISB
13:00	Lunch
14:00	Lab tours
15:00	Break
15:30	Electric machines in high power propulsion systems- applications, challenges and potential	Rafal Sokolowski, Astron Systems LTD
16:00	Design and modeling of high-speed induction machines for submerged cryogenic pumps	Marco Biasion, ABB Corporate Research Center Sweden
16:30		University of Nottingham
17:00	Close

Registration

Type	Standard Fee	Group Discount (3+ delegates)
Member	£185.00	N/A
Non-Member	£245.00	N/A
Student	£155.00	N/A
Exhibiting - incl 2 delegates	£595.00	N/A

Event