Date of Award
Summer 2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
First Advisor
Ayman EL-Refaie
Second Advisor
Majeed Hayat
Third Advisor
James Alexander
Abstract
Historically, large and small commercial aircraft have been powered by fossil fuel based turboprop, turboshaft or jet engines. Emissions from these engines are responsible for the rise in CO2 levels contributing to global warming. There has been a nationwide push towards aircraft propulsion electrification to counter emissions by replacing fossil fuel based engines with electrical machines. In the aerospace industry, aircraft weight is a critical factor. For the same amount of power produced, traditional electrical machines weigh more than traditional fossil fuel based engines. That is, electrical machines have lower specific power (kW/kg) compared to fossil fuel based engines. Observing the general sizing equation for an electrical machine, it is evident that for a fixed volume, there are three ways to increase a machine’s specific power. The first way is to increase the rotational speed of the rotor, the second way is to increase the magnetic loading in the air gap and the third way is to increase the electrical loading and current density. All three approaches result in mechanical and thermal challenges. This thesis addresses these mechanical and thermal challenges faced by a proposed high specific power surface permanent magnet electrical machine consisting of additively manufactured windings integrated with heat pipes.