Unified Applicable Propulsion System Performance Metrics

Author(s):  
Oliver Schmitz ◽  
Mirko Hornung

Progress in the development of electrical storage and conversion technology progressively attains focus in aerospace motive power research. Novel propulsion system concepts based on hybrid or even entirely electrical energy sources are seriously considered for aircraft design. To this point, unified figures of merit are required in order to allow for consistent comparative investigations of existing combustion engines and future electrically-based propulsion systems. Firstly, this paper identifies the shortcomings of conventional performance metrics used for nonthermal electrical conversion processes and then approaches exergy-based loss methods as means of metrics extensions. Subsequently, energy source-independent figures of merit based on exergy analysis are derived and embedded into the well-known performance definitions. Finally, the unified metrics are demonstrated through application to a conventional turbofan, a parallel-hybrid turbofan, a novel integrated-hybrid turbofan concept, and an entirely electrical fan concept.

Author(s):  
Oliver Schmitz ◽  
Mirko Hornung

Progress in the development of electrical storage and conversion technology progressively attains focus in aerospace motive power research. Novel propulsion system concepts based on hybrid or even entirely electrical energy sources are seriously considered for aircraft design. To this point, unified figures of merit are required in order to allow for consistent comparative investigations of existing combustion engines and future electrically-based propulsion systems. Firstly, this paper identifies the shortcomings of conventional performance metrics used for non-thermal electrical conversion processes and then approaches exergy-based loss methods as means of metrics extensions. Subsequently, energy source-independent figures of merit based on exergy analysis are derived and embedded into the well-known performance definitions. Finally, the unified metrics are demonstrated through application to a conventional turbofan, a parallel-hybrid turbofan, a novel integrated-hybrid turbofan concept and an entirely electrical fan concept.


Author(s):  
John C. Bentz

Electrical energy sources offer some interesting possibilies for aircraft propulsion. Of particular interest are electric propulsion systems developed for aircraft that are designed for high altitude, long endurance (HALE) missions. This class of aircraft would greatly benefit from an aircraft propulsion system which minimizes thermal energy rejection and environmental pollutants. Electric propulsion systems may prove viable for the HALE mission, if reliable energy sources can be developed that are both fuel and weight efficient. Fuel cells are a possible energy source. This paper discusses the thermodynamic cyclic analysis of a fuel cell powered electric propulsion system. In particular, phosphoric acid and polymer electrolyte fuel cells are evaluated as possible energy sources.


Author(s):  
Jo Köhler ◽  
Peter Jeschke

AbstractThis paper presents a novel conceptual design method for electric and hybrid electric propulsion systems in small aircraft. The effects of key design parameters on the propulsion system performance are analyzed and the advantages and drawbacks of the investigated propulsion systems are discussed on the basis of two sets of thrust requirements. First, the general conceptual design algorithm is outlined. This is followed by a description of the three propulsion systems investigated: the fully electric; the parallel hybrid; and the conventional internal combustion engine. Scalable models of all required propulsion system components are presented, including weight estimation and operating characteristics. Afterwards, the conceptual design algorithm is exemplified for a reference two-seater motorized glider with a cruising speed of 140 kt and a maximum take-off mass of 1000 kg. Key design parameters are identified and their impact on propulsion system mass and cruise efficiency discussed. This study suggests that the parallel hybrid propulsion system is advantageous for high power ratios between take-off and cruise. For a power ratio of 4.5, either a relative cruise efficiency advantage of 12% or a maximum system mass advantage of 10% can be expected, depending on the propeller design. For the chosen cruise range of 300 km, the system mass of the fully electric propulsion system is at least 2.37 times higher when compared to the conventional propulsion system. In summary, a design method for hybrid electric propulsion systems is presented here which may be used for conceptual design. Furthermore, the suitability of the propulsion systems under investigation for different sets of thrust requirements is assessed, which may be helpful for aircraft designers.


Author(s):  
Luca Boggero ◽  
Marco Fioriti ◽  
Sabrina Corpino

In this paper, an innovative methodology for the conceptual design of hybrid-powered airplanes is proposed. In particular, this work focuses on parallel hybrid architectures, in which the thermal engine is mechanically coupled to an electric motor, both supplying propulsive power during a limited number of flight phases, e.g. during takeoff and climb. This innovative solution is the subject of several studies being carried out since the current decade. In this paper, a brief overview of the works conducted by other researchers is provided. Then, an overall aircraft design methodology is proposed, which is derived from the most renewed design algorithms. The original contribution of this work is represented by the development of a methodology for the design of hybrid propulsion systems. Moreover, the proposed method is integrated within a global aircraft design methodology. In particular, several effects of the innovative system on the entire aircraft are considered, for instance the variation of the empty mass or the impacts on fuel consumption. The paper ends with some case studies of the proposed design methodology, and a discussion of the obtained results is provided.


Author(s):  
Nguyen Hong Giang ◽  
Vo Nguyen Quoc Bao ◽  
Hung Nguyen-Le

This paper analyzes the performance of a cognitive underlay system over Nakagami-m fading channels, where maximal ratio combining (MRC) is employed at secondary destination and relay nodes. Under the condition of imperfect channel state information (CSI) of interfering channels, system performance metrics for the primary network and for the secondary network are formulated into exact and approximate expressions, which can be served as theoretical guidelines for system designs. To verify the performance analysis, several analytical and simulated results of the system performance are provided under various system and channel settings.


Author(s):  
Peter Rez

Everything that rolls along the ground uses energy to overcome both rolling resistance and air resistance. Air resistance is more significant at higher speeds. Repeated accelerations dominate energy use in stop–start city driving. Not surprisingly, heavy, large SUVs use more energy to go a given distance than lighter, more streamlined cars. Due to the mismatch between the torque required and the rotation rate of the drive wheels, internal combustion engines in cars or trucks do not operate at their peak efficiency. Trains are the most efficient form of ground transportation due to both the lower rolling resistance of steel wheels on railroad tracks and the lower air resistance of its long and thin structure. A further advantage is that rail with fixed tracks can take advantage of the efficient generation of electrical energy. This is also obviously the main disadvantage; trains can only go where tracks have been laid.


2007 ◽  
Vol 1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Budak ◽  
S. Guner ◽  
C. Muntele ◽  
C. C. Smith ◽  
B. Zheng ◽  
...  

AbstractSemiconducting â-Zn4Sb3and ZrNiSn-based half-heusler compound thin films were prepared by co-evaporation for the application of thermoelectric (TE) materials. High-purity solid zinc and antimony were evaporated by electron beam to grow the â-Zn4Sb3thin film while high-purity zirconium powder and nickel tin powders were evaporated by electron beam to grow the ZrNiSn-based half-heusler compound thin film. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was used to analyze the composition of the thin films. The grown thin films were subjected to 5 MeV Si ions bombardments for generation of nanostructures in the films. We measured the thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and electrical conductivity of these two systems before and after 5 MeV Si ions beam bombardments. The two material systems have been identified as promising TE materials for the application of thermal-to-electrical energy conversion, but the efficiency still limits their applications. The electronic energy deposited due to ionization in the track of MeV ion beam can cause localized crystallization. The nanostructures produced by MeV ion beam can cause significant change in both the electrical and the thermal conductivity of thin films, thereby improving the efficiency. We used the 3ù-method measurement system to measure the cross-plane thermal conductivity ,the Van der Pauw measurement system to measure the cross-plane electrical conductivity, and the Seebeck-coefficient measurement system to measure the cross-plane Seebeck coefficient. The thermoelectric figures of merit of the two material systems were then derived by calculations using the measurement results. The MeV ion-beam bombardment was found to decrease the thermal conductivity of thin films and increase the efficiency of thermal-to-electrical energy conversion.


2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milt Davis ◽  
Peter Montgomery

Testing of a gas turbine engine for aircraft propulsion applications may be conducted in the actual aircraft or in a ground-test environment. Ground test facilities simulate flight conditions by providing airflow at pressures and temperatures experienced during flight. Flight-testing of the full aircraft system provides the best means of obtaining the exact environment that the propulsion system must operate in but must deal with limitations in the amount and type of instrumentation that can be put on-board the aircraft. Due to this limitation, engine performance may not be fully characterized. On the other hand, ground-test simulation provides the ability to enhance the instrumentation set such that engine performance can be fully quantified. However, the current ground-test methodology only simulates the flight environment thus placing limitations on obtaining system performance in the real environment. Generally, a combination of ground and flight tests is necessary to quantify the propulsion system performance over the entire envelop of aircraft operation. To alleviate some of the dependence on flight-testing to obtain engine performance during maneuvers or transients that are not currently done during ground testing, a planned enhancement to ground-test facilities was investigated and reported in this paper that will allow certain categories of flight maneuvers to be conducted. Ground-test facility performance is simulated via a numerical model that duplicates the current facility capabilities and with proper modifications represents planned improvements that allow certain aircraft maneuvers. The vision presented in this paper includes using an aircraft simulator that uses pilot inputs to maneuver the aircraft engine. The aircraft simulator then drives the facility to provide the correct engine environmental conditions represented by the flight maneuver.


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