ENGINeUS XL electric motor

The ENGINeUS XL is a liquid-cooled electric motor for aircraft propulsion, made by Safran Electrical & Power as the high-power member of the ENGINeUS range. It was previously known as the ENGINeUS 500 and is aimed at regional aircraft and hybrid-electric architectures, where it delivers shaft power to a propeller or fan.

The power class is the main feature. The maker positions the XL between 500 kW and 1 MW. The motor has been demonstrated at more than 500 kW in testing, and it is described as capable of reaching 1 MW. For an integrator this means one motor family can cover a range of aircraft sizes, with the rated power depending on the electrical supply, the cooling capacity and the duty cycle of the installation. The ENGINeUS range as a whole is described as covering 50 kW to 1 MW, with a supply of up to 850 VDC and speeds from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm.

Liquid cooling is required by this power class. The aircraft must provide a coolant circuit with enough flow and heat rejection for the power levels used, while the smaller air-cooled ENGINeUS motors do not need it. The thermal design usually sets the continuous power achievable in service, so it should be agreed with the maker early in the project.

The unit has an integrated controller. In the ENGINeUS family the motor and its power electronic converter are built as a smart motor, which reduces the number of separate boxes and wiring runs between the aircraft DC bus and the motor. The aircraft provides the DC supply and the data connection to the flight or powertrain control system, together with the mechanical interface to the propeller or gearbox. Voltage, speed, mass and dimensions of the XL are given by the maker in its project documentation.

In a test with two motors and their onboard control electronics, the pair delivered more than 1,000 kW of continuous power at 1,900 rpm, with 5,000 Nm of torque. This shows the operating point at which the motor class is used for a large propeller.

Typical applications are electric and hybrid-electric regional aircraft, distributed propulsion on large eVTOL and short take-off airframes, and hybrid architectures in which the motor assists a turbine engine. Certification and standards for this model are not stated in the sources consulted.