Airbus & CERN Partner to Promote Superconducting Tech for Clean Aviation

In summary, CERN and Airbus are partnering on superconducting technologies for future aircraft. This will reduce the weight and increase efficiency of aircraft systems. Applications for superconducting technologies include military and defense applications at altitude.
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pinball1970
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Airbus and CERN to partner on superconducting technologies for future clean aviation
https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/...o-partner-on-superconducting-technologies-for

"Airbus UpNext, a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus, and CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, are launching a project to evaluate how superconductivity can contribute to the decarbonisation of future aircraft systems. The Super-Conductor for Aviation with Low Emissions (SCALE) demonstrator aims to promote the adaptation and adoption of superconducting technologies in airborne electrical distribution systems."

Also on the CERN site.

https://home.cern/news/news/knowledge-sharing/cern-and-airbus-partnership-future-clean-aviation

“Superconducting technologies have fuelled some of the greatest discoveries in high-energy physics and, if applied to aircraft power distribution systems, would drastically reduce their weight and increase their efficiency."

Also featured in this months edition of "Air International" March 2023 where this was spotted by @Astranut - thank you.
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
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Aircraft typically fly at 10 km, (30,000 ft ASL), where the air temperature is stable at -67°C.
There are now high-temperature superconductors approaching those temperatures.
It does seem sensible to watch that space.
 
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So the objective is to reduce the weight of the conductors from the batteries or fuel cells to the electric motors on the wings? Seems like a bit of overkill without more explanation. They could use HV transmission of the energy to reduce the size and weight of the conductors too, and the expense of the voltage conversion units...
 
  • #4
berkeman said:
Seems like a bit of overkill without more explanation.
There will be some military/defence applications for SC at altitude.

Maybe the upper surface of a wing will become PV silicon, with SC interconnects and motors.

There are solar UAVs being tested in USA at 60,000 ft, climbing and charging during the day, then glide and battery during the night.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_SolarEagle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_PHASA-35
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_Zephyr
https://simpleflying.com/airbus-zephyr-flight-ends/
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N469TN
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ZULU82
 
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1. What is the partnership between Airbus and CERN?

The partnership between Airbus and CERN is a collaboration to promote the use of superconducting technology in the aviation industry. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and make air travel more environmentally friendly.

2. What is superconducting technology?

Superconducting technology is a type of technology that uses materials with zero electrical resistance at very low temperatures. This allows for the efficient transfer of electricity, making it a promising solution for reducing energy consumption and emissions in the aviation industry.

3. How will superconducting technology benefit the aviation industry?

The use of superconducting technology in the aviation industry has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and make air travel more environmentally friendly. It can also lead to more efficient and lightweight aircraft designs, reducing fuel consumption and costs for airlines.

4. What role does CERN play in this partnership?

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is a world-renowned research organization that specializes in particle physics. They have extensive expertise in superconducting technology and will be providing their knowledge and resources to help develop and implement this technology in the aviation industry.

5. When can we expect to see the implementation of superconducting technology in the aviation industry?

While there is no specific timeline for the implementation of superconducting technology in the aviation industry, the partnership between Airbus and CERN is a significant step towards making this a reality. It will likely take several years of research and development before this technology can be fully integrated into commercial aircraft.

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