Development of axial flux HTS induction motors

Development of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) motors has been focused on typical construction with radial magnetic flux configuration similar to traditional electrical motors. Design and construction in axial magnetic flux configuration are a new alternative to develop HTS motors. This paper presents the design and optimization of a superconductor induction motor in axial flux configuration, using HTS BSCCO-2223 tapes. Electrical evaluation and results in geometries of 4, 6, and 8 poles of an ironless stator are presented. The axial flux poles configuration of the stator was constructed by cutting and welding the HTS tapes sections. However, due to this construction method, a reduction in the critical current (I-c) was presented, observing an increasing reduction by increasing the pole number or the number of the welded joints. The evaluation and determination of the I-c of HTS stators in axial flux configuration by inductive methods are presented. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of the ENIINVIE-2012.