9/5/2023 University of Arkansas
Written by University of Arkansas
University of Illinois and University of Arkansas collaborating researchers have been recognized by R&D 100 Awards for their innovations. This year's recognition highlighted the 250 kiloWatt all-silicon carbide motordrive for hybrid electric aircraft.
Working with Ampaire Inc., an electrified aircraft company in southern California, the researchers designed the motor drive to power the electrical engine in a hybrid electric aircraft, focusing on electrical, mechanical, controls and communications.
MechSE Professor Nenad Miljkovic led the team at Illinois that worked on the thermal-management design of the motor drive. The Arkansas team includes professors Alan Mantooth, Yue Zhao, David Huitink and Chris Farnell.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy/Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy CIRCUITS program, or ARPA-E, the electric motor drive was highlighted when the hybrid aircraft was displayed at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Denver in 2022.
Wolfspeed, a leader in the worldwide adoption of silicon carbide and GaN technologies, contributed commercial power modules and integration expertise to the development of the electronic motor drive.
Ampaire provided the testbed during development and successfully piloted the test flight of the electric motor drive on Feb. 20. This electric motor drive has the potential to provide positive impacts in aeronautics in the near future.
The R&D 100 Awards, often referred to as “The Oscars of Innovation” and the “Nobel Prize of Engineering,” is the only science and technology awards competition that recognizes new commercial products, technologies and materials for their technological significance that are available for sale or license. The awards program is in its 60th year. A black-tie event will be held in November in San Diego, California.
About ARPA-E: The Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. ARPA-E empowers America's energy researchers with funding, technical assistance, and market readiness. ARPA-E awardees are unique because they are developing entirely new ways to generate, store, and use energy. ARPA-E projects have the potential to radically improve U.S. economic prosperity, national security, and environmental well-being.