Superconducting Fault Current Limiter for Electrical Aircraft

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the aviation sector must decarbonize. One promising solution is the development of electric aircraft. Superconductivity not only reduces weight—a critical requirement for avionics—but also enables new functionalities, such as fault current limitation, which is the focus of this article. While Superconducting Fault Current Limiters (SFCLs) are already well-established for terrestrial electrical grids, their integration into aircraft presents unique challenges. Conventional bifilar pancake configuration is not fully compatible with the stringent weight and compactness requirements. To address this, we have selected a compact and adaptable bifilar layer winding. This design will be cooled by circulating helium gas at approximately 45 K, a temperature already chosen for other superconducting components onboard. An experimental model (400 V, 1500 A) will be constructed to validate and qualify these technological choices. The cooling system will consist of a closed-loop helium gas circuit, utilizing a Gifford-McMahon cryocooler and a cryogenic circulation fan. Preliminary tests, conducted in liquid nitrogen (77 K) at 150 VDC, have already yielded successful results.