Russian electric aviation revolution and similar projects world wide
By: Russiapost Global
Tags: Russia, Technology, Green Energy, Aviation, Science

World’s first aircraft with revolutionary, game changing superconducting electric engine was first tested in Novosibirsk. In the first days of February this year in the Chaplygin Siberian Aviation Research institute airfield in Novosibirsk, was been given green light for ground tests of plane-laboratory, made on the base of soviet made Yak-40. This unique aircraft is quipped with hybrid power plant tat includes superconducting electric engine that was exclusively build for this type of aircraft.

To say it is just a progress or something evolutionary means to say nothing. We can see very clear the start of development of absolutely new class of aviation — electric aviation and for now only Russia shows the biggest progress and real, working results in this field. Of course, that doesn’t mean nobody trying! There number of similar programs around the globe.

German giant “Siemens” has not only similar project but even a flying prototype (jet), the problem is, it is ultra light and for one person only. Despite the fact that “Siemens” one person’s jet has surprisingly powerful engines they are not superconducting which means they have no chance to compete with superconducting electric engines.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus also works on the development of electric airliners. Siemens and Rolls-Royce together works on project E-Fan X. It supposed to be hybrid jet, as well as project SuperOks. First flight scheduled for 2021.

However, all of these projects tend to work with regular electric engines. Besides that european program “Advanced Superconducting Motor Experimental Demonstrator (ASuMED), which is coordinated by a german Oswald elektromotoren announced development of demonstration version of superconducting electric engine, but it’s still mystery in which stage of the development process they are and is there anything working made.

It is obvious, Russia it’s not the sole player in this electric aircraft game, however in this field only Russia moved forward more then anyone else. Russians not only have working superconducting electric engine, but already uses it for ground tests on the actual plane. Russia become first country in the world that tested that type flying machine in working conditions. In fact, russians did impossible and unified two projects E-Fan X and ASuMED into one, which allows to stay ahead of the competition.

Plane-laboratory SuperOks is equipped with hybrid power plant and with classic generator, which uses oil to produce electricity. Similar project has Airbus, however they using traditional electric engine. Therefore it doesn’t matter how innovative will be “Siemens” made engine for project E-Fan X it will still be way weaker superconducting electric engine from SuperOks. Technology of superconductivity significantly increases engines specific power (power-to-weight ratio) and gives incredibly high ECE (energy conversion efficiency), up to 99%.

High-temperature superconductors are used in making these revolutionary engines. Of course that doesn’t mean that superconductivity will appear itself in room temperature, no, that means that superconductivity will become possible once temperature will be far more then zero, for example, at the temperature of liquid hydrogen or helium, and in the long term even nitrogen.

High-temperature superconductors is not something that exists only in someones fantasy world, no, russian company SuperOks long time in the business and not only works on their development, but also manufactures materials and other production retaining substances of high-temperature superconductivity. Company exports production to 20 countries world wide. Possession (having the most) of the most important component needed to build those engines guarantees Russia strong and reliable growth in this area.

One of most complicated parts in making electric engine is to provide cooling for the stator and rotor so that the winding has a temperature necessary for the appearance of the effect of superconductivity. However, has been founded, that:

“The complexity of cooling the high-temperature superconductivity stator is that the cryostat materials will be in the zone of action of high alternating magnetic fields, which cause intense heating of metallic materials, increasing the thermal load on the cryogenic circuit and reducing the efficiency of the entire system” — told Sergei Smoleinkov, CEO of the SuperOks, company which works on the development of superconducting electric engine and high-temperature superconductors. SuperOks developed a cryostat technology for the stator of an electric engine, which does not contain metal parts in the active part of the electric motor. According to the CEO, rotor cooling requires the development of a rotating refrigerant inlet with a vacuum seal, which considerably complicates construction of the rotor. Besides, this allows the rotor shaft to be hollowed out and to control the variable pitch propeller through it — an important addition for aviation.

Despite the fact that NASA in 2007 admitted that using of the high-temperature superconductors in aviation is highly perspective, it still completely unknown and unpaved way, that can lead to nowhere (dead end). Even if it so, Russia still will be among those very few countries in the world that has it’s very own high-tech manufacturing industry able to produce the most complex high-tech production and company SuperOks, that works on development and production those kind of products, serves as the best example.

Translation and audio: Danielius Karkozas