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High-Power Advanced Cable Technology (HiACT)

Overview

Two men perform a test at NASA Glenn's ACT Rig. — Testing at the ACT rig at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. Credits: NASA

Research and development of electrified aircraft applications face new challenges in efficiency, reliability, and safety. Unlike traditional commercial aircraft, electrified aircraft systems must operate at significantly higher power levels with increased voltages and stronger electrical currents, while minimizing weight and ensuring efficient thermal management.

To meet the needs of advanced wiring technology for electric aircraft, the Advanced Cable Technology (ACT) Rig at NASA’s Glenn Research Center is designed to test the thermal performance of cables for electrified aircraft systems. Data collected by the ACT rig will help inform future standards and close the technology gaps for commercial aircraft electrification.

Capability

Operating at around 35,000 feet, electric aircraft systems will be subject to thinner air, tighter spaces, and temperature shifts which will impact electrical wire and cable performance. Wiring technologies must be lightweight in order to minimize energy consumption, but insulated enough to prevent safety hazards from arcing events where currents cross cables through the air.

Cables must also have effective thermal management and transfer heat effectively to optimize aircraft performance. The ACT rig is built to address these challenges by evaluating cables at ratings higher than current aircraft standards and determining cable specifications for safe and effective operations.

The ACT rig team stands together at the facility. — The ACT rig and team. Credits: NASA

Image of the ACT rig facility — The ACT rig facility for electrified aircraft research and development. Credits: NASA

Tests being conducted at the ACT rig facility. — Completing checkout tests with the ACT Rig. Credits: NASA

To test and evaluate these new standards, the ACT rig operates in a room temperature environment at sea level pressure with a maximum electrical current of 1,000 amps. The ACT rig enables testing of electrical cable ampacities to determine size and weight specifications which operate efficiently under increased power and current levels while maintaining consistent temperature ratings.

In addition to testing the thermal performance of electrical cables, the ACT rig is used to test various cooling methods for high-powered electronics. A 32kW resistive load in an aluminum housing is used to simulate electrical interfaces and thermal loads of high-density powered electronics in MW-scale electrified aircraft propulsion. A range of heat exchanger designs can be tested to find the optimal geometry, materials, and manufacturing process for high heat flux applications like power switches in MW-class converters.

Image of a copper heat exchanger — Copper heat exchanger with high thermal conductivity for efficient heat transfer. Credits: NASA

Image of a copper heat exchanger mounted to a resistor — Copper heat exchanger mounted to a resistor to simulate electrical and thermal loads. Credits: NASA

Collaborating with industry partners, evaluation of cable performance based on new requirements for electrified aircraft will be key in establishing future standards that keep electric aircraft systems efficient with minimal heat and energy loss. Initial checkout tests of the ACT rig aim to provide key data that will define the next set of tests and research questions for further assessment before eventually establishing new standards for future electrified commercial aircraft.

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