Development of Double-Rotor Motor for Aircraft Electrification

Abstract

Double-rotor motors are a promising configuration for electric aircraft propulsion, aiming to minimize the overall weight of the powertrain by leveraging their high-power factor. This study proposes a double-rotor motor with an axially extended closed-slot structure to secure the stator and reduce harmonic rotor losses. Subsequently, a novel cooling structure, termed as direct coil cooling, is implemented in the proposed motor, and a prototype small-scale stator is fabricated to evaluate the enhancement in current density. Lastly, a partitioned rotor core with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) retaining ring is applied for high-speed operation.