Modeling of Protection Systems for Superconducting Powertrains

Achieving net-zero carbon emissions in aviation by 2050 requires advanced propulsion. 

While Airbus ZEROe develops a hydrogen aircraft, the CRYOPROP project explores a trade-off: superconducting (SC) powertrains leveraging liquid hydrogen's cryogenics for high efficiency.

This thesis addresses the critical need for lightweight, volume-constrained fault protection in these high-power cryogenic DC systems.
The research focused on developing physics-based models for a passive interruption device, structured in two parts:

1. Pre-Arcing Response: A 2D Finite Difference Method model was developed to simulate the SC tape's non-linear quench, heating and melting.
2. Electric Arc Dynamics: A novel differential equation formalism was created to accurately model arc extinction by incorporating dynamic electrode erosion.

Both models were validated against experimental data from Airbus UpNext. 

These validated, computationally efficient engineering tools provide an essential technical foundation to guide the design of CRYOPROP's cryogenic protection strategy.