Airbus & CERN Partner to Promote Superconducting Tech for Clean Aviation

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the partnership between Airbus and CERN to explore the application of superconducting technologies in aviation, specifically focusing on the potential for these technologies to contribute to the decarbonization of aircraft systems. The scope includes theoretical implications, practical applications, and the exploration of existing technologies in the context of clean aviation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight the potential of superconducting technologies to reduce weight and increase efficiency in aircraft power distribution systems.
  • Others question the necessity of superconductors, suggesting that high-voltage transmission could also effectively reduce conductor size and weight.
  • There are mentions of military and defense applications for superconductors at high altitudes, with speculative ideas about integrating photovoltaic materials and superconducting interconnects on aircraft wings.
  • Participants reference ongoing developments in solar-powered UAVs that operate at high altitudes, indicating a broader context for the discussion of superconducting technologies in aviation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of curiosity and skepticism regarding the application of superconducting technologies in aviation, with no consensus reached on their necessity or effectiveness compared to other methods.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the operational environments for superconductors and the specifics of energy transmission methods remain unaddressed, leaving certain aspects of the discussion open to interpretation.

pinball1970
Gold Member
2025 Award
Messages
3,673
Reaction score
5,841
TL;DR
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.
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: PeroK
Physics news on Phys.org
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.
 
Reply
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: pinball1970
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...
 
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
 
Reply
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: pinball1970