Superconducting Coil Testing and Modeling for Future Electric Aircraft

NASA maintains a strong desire to develop technology that will enable future hybrid electric aircraft. Why electric? There are fewer emissions, less atmospheric heat release, quieter flight, better energy conservation, and more reliable systems. Currently, the largest contributor to fuel consumption is the large single aisle class. One particular electric aircraft vehicle concept of interest is the fully superconducting (SC) aircraft, which relies on high performing SC components such as wires and stator or rotor coils that are used to transfer power throughout the aircraft.
Recently a test rig named ICE BOX was designed and built to test components at cryogenic temperatures without the use of a hazardous fluid, allowing rapid testing. ICE BOX uses cryocoolers to chill down an interface plate where samples can be mounted and tested at reduced temperature. Tests on various SC coils, under different thermal and magnetic conditions are required in order to provide data for researchers and designers of future SC aircraft.
A coil testrig has also been built which will allow NASA to perform AC loss testing on superconducting coils. Work remains to conduct check out tests on both systems, including the drive electronics, instrumentation, flow system, and eventual coil testing. We will be testing various superconducting wires and coils as a function of operating temperature, rotor speed, coolant flow rate, and injection current to determine the operational ranges over which the superconductors can operate. This data will also be used to develop models for determining the AC losses, and both data and models will be used to inform higher order design of full MW-scale superconducting machines for fully superconducting aircraft.
In short, the selected student will be assisting lead cryogenic scientists to conduct testing and develop models for superconducting aircraft technology development at a fundamental level. The student will also be brought into other cryogenic fluid management, fluid, and thermal tasks as needed. Anticipated tasks include the following:
1. Assist engineers in testing superconductors in either DC or AC loss configurations.
2. Perform fluid flow and heat transfer data analysis
3. Troubleshoot fluid/thermal flow loop operation
4. Make modifications to Labview data acquisition system, wiring, and sensors to improve data quality and data reduction.
5. Perform data analysis, uncertainty analysis, and AC loss model computations.

This internship is applicable to the GRC’s core competencies of:
1. Aeronautics
2. Cryogenic fluid management
3. Power, energy conversion

Expected opportunity outcome (i.e. research, final report, poster presentation, etc.):
The main expected outcome is a detailed report of any test results, experimental methodology, uncertainty analysis, troubleshooting, and any associated modeling.
Student's Computer and/or Special Skills:
It is preferred that the assigned student be of junior, senior, or Masters level and have already taken 1-2 semesters of undergraduate level Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, and Circuits and Control. Student must be proficient with all basic Microsoft Office programs, specifically Powerpoint, Word, and Excel. Knowledge of Matlab (or equivalent data processing/numerical code) is required. Student must have taken at least one semester in numerical techniques and have working knowledge on basic statistics, curve fitting techniques, and basic optimization. A basic understanding of two-phase flow is also desirable but not required. It is preferred that the student be available for 2 or more semesters.

**Eligible Applicants:** Student
**Academic Level:** Undergraduate Junior, Undergraduate Senior, Graduate Master's, Graduate Doctoral, Post Doctoral
**Activity Type:** In-person
**Citizenship:** US Citizen Only
**Type:** Internships