Minneapolis-based H3X has launched what it claims to be an integrated electric motor design, the HPDM-250, that can provide sustained power as some of the best electric aviation motors on the market at a third or less of the total weight.
“For long-distance electric aircraft to be feasible, substantial improvements need to be made to electric propulsion system technology,” says the company.” Today, best-in-class motors and inverters have a combined power density of 3-4 kW/kg. ARPA-E has determined that for a Boeing 737 to complete a typical five hour flight, the propulsion system must be >12 kW/kg continuous…..At 13 kW/kg continuous, the HPDM-250 exceeds ARPA-E’s requirements and is at least 3X better than current systems. It is a step change in electric propulsion technology and removes one of the main barriers blocking widespread commercialization of electric aircraft.
“The HPDM-250 is an ultra-high power density integrated motor drive for electric aircraft. It combines the electric motor and inverter (+ optional gearbox) into one powerful unit. It is the culmination of H3X innovation in multiple areas including:
- Electromagnetics design optimization
- DMLS 3D printed synergistic cooling jacket
- SLM 3D printed copper stator coils
- Robust fault tolerance
- Thermal resistance reduction
- High frequency SiC power electronics
Primary near-term applications are urban air mobility, eVTOL, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), military jets, and select regional aircraft markets.vPrimary long-term applications are large commercial electric airliners.
For more information
https://www.h3x.tech/