Airbus and CERN join up for the launching of a project Super-Conductor for Aviation with Low Emissions (SCALE) demonstrator aimed to promote the decarbonization of future aircraft systems.
Airbus UpNext, a fully owned subsidiary of Airbus, and CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics have launched a project to assess how superconductivity can aid in the decarbonization of future aircraft systems. In order to encourage the application of superconducting technology in aerial electrical distribution systems, the Super-Conductor for Aviation with Low Emissions (SCALE) demonstration was created.
“In its research, CERN pushes the limits of science and engineering, and partners with industry to enable innovation, with positive environmental impact,” said Raphael Bello, CERN’s Director of Finance and Human Resources. “Our technologies have the potential to be adapted to the needs of future clean transportation and mobility solutions, as demonstrated by this agreement with Airbus. This partnership is only a first step in our journey with the European leader in aviation, and shows how much we value the excellence of our Member States’ industry.”, he further added.
The SCALE demonstrator combines Airbus UpNext’s expertise in cutting-edge aircraft design and manufacturing with CERN’s expertise in superconducting technologies. Initial findings are anticipated by the end of 2023.
“Our role at Airbus UpNext is to explore the full potential of technologies applied for future aircraft and to partner with the world leaders to prepare for this future. Partnering with a leading research institute such as CERN, which brought the world some of the most important findings in fundamental physics, will help push the boundaries of research in clean aerospace as we work to make sustainable aviation a reality”, said Sandra Bour-Schaeffer, CEO Airbus UpNext. “We are already developing a superconductivity demonstrator called ASCEND (Advanced superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental powertraiN Demonstrator) to study the feasibility of this technology for electric and hybrid aircraft. Combining knowledge obtained from our demonstrator and CERN’s unique capabilities in the field of superconductors makes for a natural partnership.” , she further added.
It represents the beginning of a sustained partnership that will open the door to superconducting power distribution for aircraft. By the end of 2025, the initiative hopes to have an improved generic superconductor cryogenic (500kW) powertrain that has undergone laboratory testing. CERN will use Airbus UpNext requirements and CERN technologies to design, build, and test SCALE. A DC link (cable and cryostat) with two current leads makes up the demonstration. Gaseous helium is the foundation of the cooling system.
