1 MW-Class High-Speed Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines for Electrical Aviation Propulsion

Yang Xiao; Xingqi Lyu; Jinning Zhang; Anshan Yu; Yinzhao Zheng; Ruichi Wang

doi:10.3390/electronics15061163

1 MW-Class High-Speed Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines for Electrical Aviation Propulsion

Yang Xiao
, Xingqi Lyu
, Jinning Zhang
, Anshan Yu
, Yinzhao Zheng
, Ruichi Wang

University of Leicester
University of Sheffield
Loughborough University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

10 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper investigates the feasibility of an interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotor for 1 MW-class high-speed permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) in a hybrid propulsion system of electrified aviation. A double-layer IPM machine and a surface-mounted PM (SPM) benchmark machine with Halbach-array PMs, which are typically employed in aviation applications; are designed using the same design specifications, the same stator, double-three-phase winding layout, physical air-gap length, outer and inner diameters of rotor; and the same materials. The rotor robustness of the IPM machine using high-strength iron material has been verified through mechanical strength analysis with an outstanding safety factor margin. The electromagnetic performances of IPM and SPM benchmark machines are compared. It is found that the IPM design can achieve similar high torque/power density and high efficiency to the SPM benchmark machine, using 48% less rare-earth PM materials and a simpler rotor structure without a carbon fiber sleeve for easy manufacturing. The investigation confirms the feasibility of IPM topology for MW-class high-speed aviation propulsion machines for lower cost and more sustainable purposes.

Original language	English
Article number	1163
Number of pages	22
Journal	Electronics
Volume	15
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15061163
Publication status	Published - 11 Mar 2026

Bibliographical note

Data Access Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Funding

This research was funded by University of Leicester Starting Grant, grant number P12DF143, and Royal Society Research Grant, grant number RG\R1\251624.

Funders	Funder number
University of Leicester	P12DF143
Royal Society	RG\R1\251624

Keywords

interior permanent magnet rotor
permanent magnet synchronous machine
high-speed machine
hybrid propulsion

Access to Document

10.3390/electronics15061163

electronics-15-01163
© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Final published version, 3.16 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

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title = "1 MW-Class High-Speed Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines for Electrical Aviation Propulsion",

abstract = "This paper investigates the feasibility of an interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotor for 1 MW-class high-speed permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) in a hybrid propulsion system of electrified aviation. A double-layer IPM machine and a surface-mounted PM (SPM) benchmark machine with Halbach-array PMs, which are typically employed in aviation applications; are designed using the same design specifications, the same stator, double-three-phase winding layout, physical air-gap length, outer and inner diameters of rotor; and the same materials. The rotor robustness of the IPM machine using high-strength iron material has been verified through mechanical strength analysis with an outstanding safety factor margin. The electromagnetic performances of IPM and SPM benchmark machines are compared. It is found that the IPM design can achieve similar high torque/power density and high efficiency to the SPM benchmark machine, using 48\% less rare-earth PM materials and a simpler rotor structure without a carbon fiber sleeve for easy manufacturing. The investigation confirms the feasibility of IPM topology for MW-class high-speed aviation propulsion machines for lower cost and more sustainable purposes.",

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author = "Yang Xiao and Xingqi Lyu and Jinning Zhang and Anshan Yu and Yinzhao Zheng and Ruichi Wang",

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doi = "10.3390/electronics15061163",

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AU - Xiao, Yang

AU - Lyu, Xingqi

AU - Zhang, Jinning

AU - Yu, Anshan

AU - Zheng, Yinzhao

AU - Wang, Ruichi

PY - 2026/3/11

Y1 - 2026/3/11

N2 - This paper investigates the feasibility of an interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotor for 1 MW-class high-speed permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) in a hybrid propulsion system of electrified aviation. A double-layer IPM machine and a surface-mounted PM (SPM) benchmark machine with Halbach-array PMs, which are typically employed in aviation applications; are designed using the same design specifications, the same stator, double-three-phase winding layout, physical air-gap length, outer and inner diameters of rotor; and the same materials. The rotor robustness of the IPM machine using high-strength iron material has been verified through mechanical strength analysis with an outstanding safety factor margin. The electromagnetic performances of IPM and SPM benchmark machines are compared. It is found that the IPM design can achieve similar high torque/power density and high efficiency to the SPM benchmark machine, using 48% less rare-earth PM materials and a simpler rotor structure without a carbon fiber sleeve for easy manufacturing. The investigation confirms the feasibility of IPM topology for MW-class high-speed aviation propulsion machines for lower cost and more sustainable purposes.

AB - This paper investigates the feasibility of an interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotor for 1 MW-class high-speed permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) in a hybrid propulsion system of electrified aviation. A double-layer IPM machine and a surface-mounted PM (SPM) benchmark machine with Halbach-array PMs, which are typically employed in aviation applications; are designed using the same design specifications, the same stator, double-three-phase winding layout, physical air-gap length, outer and inner diameters of rotor; and the same materials. The rotor robustness of the IPM machine using high-strength iron material has been verified through mechanical strength analysis with an outstanding safety factor margin. The electromagnetic performances of IPM and SPM benchmark machines are compared. It is found that the IPM design can achieve similar high torque/power density and high efficiency to the SPM benchmark machine, using 48% less rare-earth PM materials and a simpler rotor structure without a carbon fiber sleeve for easy manufacturing. The investigation confirms the feasibility of IPM topology for MW-class high-speed aviation propulsion machines for lower cost and more sustainable purposes.

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KW - hybrid propulsion

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1 MW-Class High-Speed Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines for Electrical Aviation Propulsion

Abstract

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Keywords

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