With a total budget of nearly €5 million, the European project HYPERWIN – HYdrogen-powered suPErconducting motoR Windings for zero-emission aIrcraft propulsioN has been selected under the Clean Aviation programme.
Its objective is to develop and validate AC stator windings based on high-temperature superconductors (HTS) for future high-power electric motors for hydrogen-electric aviation. HTS technology offers the potential for lighter, more compact and highly efficient electrical machines, while liquid hydrogen provides a cryogenic environment favourable to their integration.
Over 24 months, the technology will progress from TRL 3/4 building blocks to TRL 5 validation under conditions representative of a 2 MW-class propulsion machine. The work covers winding design and optimisation, manufacturing, cryogenic cooling, protection and experimental qualification for aerospace use.
A major GREEN contribution to characterisation and testing #
Within the consortium, the Groupe de Recherche en Énergie Électrique de Nancy (GREEN) contributes its expertise in applied superconductivity for electrical engineering, with established know-how in HTS material and conductor characterisation, AC-loss measurement, cryogenic experimentation and multiphysics modelling.
Université de Lorraine will contribute to winding design and optimisation and will play a central role in module-level testing. The campaign will address electrical characteristics (Ic, n-value and V-I curves), AC losses as a function of current, frequency and inverter-representative waveforms, together with electro-thermal stability and quench behaviour.
The modules will also be assessed for mechanical and vibration robustness and accelerated ageing in order to quantify operating margins, robustness and durability for future aerospace applications.
This contribution builds on GREEN’s experience in superconducting electrical machines, HTS conductors and cables, cryogenic architectures and low-temperature power electronics.
A European consortium #
Coordinated by The University of Edinburgh, HYPERWIN brings together Université de Lorraine, SUPRASYS, The University of Nottingham, Politecnico di Milano, Sustainable Innovations Europe and HPDRIVE Technologies, with Safran, GKN Fokker Aerostructures and Futura Composites as associated partners.
The consortium therefore covers the full technology-maturation chain from design to integration and testing. Beyond TRL 5, HYPERWIN will prepare the pathway towards TRL 6, full motor integration and future aerospace qualification and certification requirements.
Further information #
Clean Aviation – selected projects: 19 Pioneering Clean Aviation Projects to mobilise €664 million in total research effort.
Acknowledgements #
GREEN and Université de Lorraine gratefully acknowledge the support of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking for HYPERWIN and thank all consortium partners for their trust and collaboration. The project is funded under the Clean Aviation programme within Horizon Europe.