POLARIX CORPORATION — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: A1

Description

The performance parameters of electric motors for aviation propulsion are: 1) specific power (SP), 2) reliability, and 3) efficiency.nbsp; The Polarix ACTS motor provides a substantial enhancement of all three. This is the result of a new motor topology made possible by the integration of the inverter with the electro-mechanical current carrying elements.nbsp; The topology has the following unique characteristics:nbsp; 1) elemental motors distributed around the periphery, each with its independently controlled inverter with overall control from a master MCU, 2) the elemental motors contained by 3 conductors with a dedicated inverter at one end, and a short at the other and thus no turns, and 3) the planar arrangement of the conductors allows for MEMS type manufacturing.nbsp;This topology results in almost halving the volume and weight of the magnetic circuit and thus effectively doubling the specific power.nbsp; Secondly, the large independent motor elements provide for massive redundancy and thus substantial higher reliability.nbsp; Also, the elimination of turns and external wiring allows for greater copper utilization and thus higher efficiency.nbsp;nbsp;The performance discussed in the proposal in parametric form (Figure 9) shows 30kW/kg specific power with stator cooling at 5W/cm2 at 99% efficiency excluding windage and core losses.nbsp;The state of the art includes both the motor and the inverter.nbsp; We have built a number of motors with construction performance required for the proposed motor and likewise we have built numerous inverters and have tested the required currents voltage and power.nbsp;The program proposed here will integrate the various elements already demonstrated into a motor with power exceeding 50kW and specific power exceeding 10kW/kg and projected at 15W/kg.nbsp;We project that the phase II will demonstrate a motor in the 500kW range and with SP power above 20kW/kg.