Superconducting Motor Cooling Layout to Limit Magnetic Field Deflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing superconducting motors face inefficiencies due to magnetic field deflection and degradation of coils caused by the interaction of induced magnetic fields with slots and the presence of coolant tubes, which degrades their performance.

Innovation Solution

A superconducting motor design featuring a stator with a support cylinder made of non-magnetic and electrically insulating material, incorporating recesses for coils and a cooling system outside the magnetic field influence, using tubes with good thermal conductivity to cool the coils efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If slots are used in the stator core to house coils, then coils can be positioned and supported, but magnetic field deflection occurs and coil efficiency degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil positioning and supportVSAvoidmagnetic field deflection loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the coils from the slots in the stator core and positions them in recesses formed directly in the magnetic cylinder, eliminating the slots and their harmful magnetic field deflection effects while maintaining coil support and positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the coil housing function with the magnetic cylinder itself by forming recesses directly in the magnetic cylinder, eliminating the need for separate slots and reducing magnetic field interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Temperature

If coolant tubes are placed inside slots to cool coils, then cooling is achieved, but coil performance degrades due to tube presence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil coolingVSAvoidcoil performance loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the coolant tubes from the slots and relocates them to a separate cooling chamber, eliminating their harmful presence within the magnetic field and coil winding area while maintaining effective cooling through thermal conduction via the magnetic cylinder

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses the magnetic cylinder as an intermediary thermal conduction path, allowing coolant tubes positioned outside the magnetic field to cool the coils through the magnetic cylinder's thermal conductivity without the tubes physically interfering with the coils or magnetic field

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If non-magnetic support cylinder is used, then magnetic field interference is reduced, but thermal conduction to coils is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field interference lossVSAvoidcoil cooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a separate cooling chamber that copies the functional role of the support cylinder for mechanical support, while dedicating the magnetic cylinder solely to its magnetic function and thermal conduction, allowing optimal material selection for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the support and cooling functions into a separate cooling chamber, allowing the magnetic cylinder to focus on magnetic field generation and thermal conduction without the compromise of using non-magnetic materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances motor efficiency by minimizing magnetic field interference and thermal gradients, improving performance and reducing losses.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling system arranged in said recess and intended to cool the part of the coil which is housed in the orifice corresponding to the recess

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

each coil 320 is electrically energized to generate a magnetic field that interacts with the permanent magnets 310 to drive them into rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4422042B1Superconducting motor with cooling system
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 AIRBUS (SAS)
  • EP4422042B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4422042B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a superconducting motor (100) comprising a rotor (102) with permanent magnets (110) and movable about a longitudinal axis (X), a stator (112) outside the rotor (102) and comprising a non-magnetic support cylinder (114a) and a ferromagnetic magnetic cylinder (114b), wherein the support cylinder (114a) is traversed by several orifices (116), wherein for each orifice (116), the magnetic cylinder (114b) has a notch (150) opposite said orifice (116), for each pair of orifices (116), a coil (120) made of a superconducting material wound by being housed in the orifices (116) of the pair, and for each notch (150), a cooling system (152) arranged in said notch (150) to cool the portion of the coil (120) that is housed in the orifice (116) corresponding to the step (150). With such an arrangement, the efficiency of the engine is improved.