Rotor Design of HTS homopolar inductor alternator based on multi-physics field

High temperature superconducting (HTS) machine has a broad application prospect in the airborne electric power system, because of its non-resistance, lightweight, and small size property. Especially when the homopolar inductor rotor was used in the HTS generator, it will also have a simple structure but high working speed which means powerful output capability. However, the design of HTS homopolar inductor alternator (HIA) rotor has to take multiple physics into consideration because of the complex working environment. The comprehensive but efficiency multi-physics predesign and multi-objective optimization of rotor parameters, which satisfies the limitation of electromagnetic output characteristics, magnetic distribution, strength, and rotor dynamics, are proposed. Finally, a prototype with the maximum output power of 30 kW is designed and manufactured, and the no-load experiment confirms the theoretical design. Meanwhile, the saturation issue is highlighted in the experimentation which will become increasingly obvious in the future miniaturization of HTS HIA.