Design, Fabrication, and Critical Current Testing of No-Insulation Superconducting Rotor Coils for NASA’s High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor

Abstract: NASA Glenn Research Center is developing a 1.4~MW high-efficiency electric machine for future electrified aircraft to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and noise. This wound-field, synchronous machine employs a self-cooled, superconducting rotor to achieve excellent specific power and efficiency. This paper discusses the fabrication of the no-insulation high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils and presents the lessons learned. The process is compared to the fabrication of conventional…