Our next Superconductivity Talk is Friday, 31 July 2026.
Superconductivity Talks is a premier virtual platform designed
to share research with the next generation.
Join us on Friday, July 31 2026, at 9AM Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 16:00 UTC
Topic: On-board cryogenic refrigeration for cryogen-free superconducting electric machines
Speaker: Dr. Peter Xiao
Abstract:
Superconducting electric machines can dramatically increase the power density and efficiency of future electric propulsion systems for aerospace and other weight-sensitive applications. However, maintaining the cryogenic environment required for superconducting operation remains one of the primary barriers to their widespread adoption. Conventional cooling approaches rely on liquid cryogens transferred through rotary couplers, resulting in complex, maintenance-intensive systems that become increasingly impractical at the high rotational speeds required by propulsion machines.
This webinar examines the emerging concept of on-board refrigeration systems integrated directly within the rotor, enabling fully self-contained superconducting electric machines without cryogenic fluid transfer. It reviews the motivation for this architecture, recent advances in rotating cryogenic refrigeration, and the key thermal, mechanical, and electromagnetic challenges associated with cryogen-free rotor design. The presentation concludes with an assessment of the current state of the technology and the remaining challenges toward practical, reliable, and commercially viable superconducting propulsion systems.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Jianqiao (Peter) Xiao completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in December 2024. His doctoral research focused on on-board refrigeration technologies for cryogen-free superconducting electric machines, with an emphasis on integrated rotor cryocoolers and low-loss torque transfer structures. He is currently a principal engineer at Hinetics Inc., where he continues to advance the development of high-power-density superconducting motors and cryogenic technologies.