Project to develop superconducting DC distribution network for aircraft
A new £1.4m project to develop hydrogen-powered electric aircraft is set to begin at Bath University this summer.
Dr Xiaoze Pei, director of Research Quality in the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS), is aiming to develop new power systems that will help to reduce the environmental impact of air travel.
Electric aircraft present a host of potential benefits including eliminating in-flight emissions and reducing noise, while the liquid hydrogen fuel needed could be created using renewable energy.
Entitled Towards Zero Emissions Electric Aircraft through Superconducting DC Distribution Network, the five-year, EPSRC Open Fellowship will address issues including power density and efficiency, safety and reliability of on-board electric distribution networks.
The proposed use of liquid hydrogen as a fuel source would mean aircraft would create a cryogenic environment in which to run the power system. This presents new opportunities to exploit high-temperature superconductors and the improved efficiency of DC distribution network, as well as the lower weight of such a system compared with AC set-ups.
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