4-MW Class High-Power-Density Generator for Future Hybrid-Electric Aircraft

Golovanov, Dmitry; Gerada, David; Sala, Giacomo; Degano, Michele; Trentin, Andrew; Connor, Peter H.; Xu, Zeyuan; Rocca, Antonino La; Galassini, Alessandro; Tarisciotti, Luca; Eastwick, Carol N.; Pickering, Stephen J.; Wheeler, Pat; Clare, Jon; Filipenko, Mykhaylo; Gerada, Chris

Abstract

This article describes the underpinning research, development, construction, and testing of a 4-MW multithree phase generator designed for a hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion system demonstrator. The aim of the work is to demonstrate gravimetric power densities around 20 kW/kg, as required for multi-MW aircraft propulsion systems. The key design choices, development procedures, and tradeoffs, together with the experimental testing of this electrical machine connected to an active rectifier, are presented. A time-efficient analytical approach to the downselection of various machine configurations, geometrical variables, different active and passive materials, and different thermal management options is first presented. A detailed design approach based on the 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) is then presented for the final design. Reduced power tests are carried out on a full-scale 4-MW machine prototype, validating the proposed design. The experimental results are in good agreement with simulation and show significant progress in the field of high-power-density electrical machines at the targeted power rating.

Citation

Golovanov, D., Gerada, D., Sala, G., Degano, M., Trentin, A., Connor, P. H., …Gerada, C. (2021). 4-MW Class High-Power-Density Generator for Future Hybrid-Electric Aircraft. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 7(4), 2952-2964. https://doi.org/10.1109/TTE.2021.3068928

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 26, 2021
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 23, 2021
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification
• Electronic ISSN: 2332-7782
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 2952-2964
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TTE.2021.3068928
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5489861
• Publisher URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9387358
• Additional Information: © 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.