Airbus is exploring the impact of superconducting materials and cryogenic temperatures on the performance of an aircraft’s electric propulsion systems.
The effort is under the company’s newly launched Advanced Superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental Powertrain Demonstrator (ASCEND), unveiled yesterday (29th March).
By introducing superconducting materials, Airbus hopes it can lower electrical resistance, meaning that electrical current can supply power without energy loss.
Coupled with liquid hydrogen at cryogenic temperatures, electrical systems can be cooled in order to significantly increase the performance of the overall electric propulsion system.
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