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Electric aircraft speed challenge: Why Rolls-Royce chose to use axial flux motors to break the record?
As electric flight technology continues to advance, major airlines and technology companies are exploring how to break flight speed records through innovative designs. Rolls-Royce's ACCEL project is one of the best. The success of this electric aircraft relies not only on advanced engineering technology, but also on its unique power system - the axial flux motor, the design of which gives it unique advantages in terms of high power and light weight.
Advantages of Axial Flux Motor
The design of the axial flux motor enables it to provide greater power density than traditional radial flux motors in the same volume. The distance between the rotor and stator of this motor is arranged axially, making the flow of magnetic flux more direct and allowing the use of lighter materials in the design, thereby reducing the overall weight.
In axial flux mode, the torque produced increases as a cubic function as the diameter of the rotor increases, while for radial flux machines it only increases as a square function.
Therefore, for electric aircraft that require extremely high torque and good heat management, axial flux motors can undoubtedly better meet the needs. Its lightweight nature enables it to provide the required thrust while reducing the demand on batteries and extending flight time.
Combination of high performance and sustainable development
With today's environmental protection trends, the aviation industry is under great pressure to find new ways to reduce its carbon footprint. Rolls-Royce's ACCEL program was born for this purpose. It not only pursues speed, but also pursues sustainable development solutions. The high efficiency of these axial flux motors makes electric aircraft much better than traditional fuel engines in terms of electrical energy usage.
YASA's research in this area has further demonstrated the potential of axial flux motors. The company has achieved an output of 220 kW in its design and kept the weight within 7 kg.
Such a high power density demonstrates the unlimited potential of axial flux motors in the aviation field and fully proves that it is an indispensable part of future aviation science.
Technical Challenge: How to break through the speed limit?
While axial flux motors offer many advantages, they also present a number of technical challenges. For example, an increase in rotational speed results in an increase in centrifugal force, which may affect the stability and performance of the rotor. Furthermore, an uneven magnetic field prevents the motor from functioning optimally.
Future research needs to focus on improving the uniformity of the magnetic field and optimizing the design in order to fundamentally resolve these performance bottlenecks.
In addition, the rapid development of electric aircraft means that the market demand is growing for smarter and more efficient electric propulsion systems. Rolls-Royce's strategy is not only to break speed records, but also to guide the entire industry towards a more environmentally friendly and efficient direction.
Future Outlook
With the world paying more attention to electric flight technology, many aviation companies and R&D institutions have begun to make related investments and research. With the application of various new materials and new technologies, the performance of axial flux motors is expected to achieve a greater leap in the near future. This will not only change the landscape of the aviation sector, but will also have a profound impact on the entire transportation system.
The future of electric aircraft is full of opportunities and challenges. With the development of technology, can it really meet human expectations for carbon-neutral flight?
