Engineering news
Cern, which operates the Large Hadron Collider, and Airbus subsidiary UpNext will explore the potential of using superconducting technologies developed for Cern’s particle accelerators in the electrical distribution systems of future hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Some materials become superconductive at extremely low temperatures, at which point they have no electrical resistance and therefore no power loss. These characteristics mean superconductivity could enable much lighter electrical distribution systems, allowing an aircraft to carry electric or hybrid-electric propulsion system.
The new partnership will focus on the development of a demonstrator known as Scale (Super-Conductors for Aviation with Low Emissions), bringing together Cern’s expertise in superconducting technologies with Airbus UpNext’s capabilities in innovative aircraft design and manufacturing.
If the expected performances and reliability objectives are achieved, the partners hope to fly a fully integrated prototype within the next decade.
“Superconducting technologies have fuelled some of the greatest discoveries in high-energy physics and, if applied to aircraft power distribution systems, would drastically reduce their weight and increase their efficiency,” said José Miguel Jimenez, head of the technology department at Cern.
“Cern has over 40 years of expertise in building world-record superconducting systems that are at the core of existing and next-generation particle accelerators. Such systems present negligible resistance to the flow of current, thus transmitting much higher intensities than traditional, heavier, non-superconducting cables.”
Sandra Bour-Schaeffer, CEO of Airbus UpNext, said: “Our role at Airbus UpNext is to explore the full potential of technologies for future aircraft and to partner with the world’s leaders to prepare for this future. Partnering with a leading research institute like Cern, which has brought the world some of the most important findings in fundamental physics, will help to push the boundaries of research in clean aerospace as we work to make sustainable aviation a reality.
“We are already developing a superconductivity demonstrator called Ascend (Advanced Superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental powertraiN Demonstrator) to study the feasibility of this technology for electrically powered and hybrid aircraft. Combining knowledge obtained from our demonstrator and Cern’s unique capabilities in the field of superconductors makes for a natural partnership.”
Raphaël Bello, Cern’s director of finance and human resources, said: “In its research, Cern pushes back the limits of science and engineering, and partners with industry to enable innovation, with a positive impact on the environment.
“Our technologies have the potential to be adapted to the needs of future clean transportation and mobility solutions, as this agreement with Airbus demonstrates. This partnership is only a first step in our journey with the European leader in aviation, and shows how much we value the excellence of our member states’ industry.”
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