Key aspects of electric vertical take-off and landing conceptual design

2019 ◽  
Vol 234 (3) ◽  
pp. 774-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bacchini ◽  
Enrico Cestino
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Automotive Applications ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Personal Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Battery Energy ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Cruise Flight ◽  
Vtol Aircraft

The recent advances in battery energy density and electric propulsion systems for automotive applications are enabling the development of the electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The electric VTOL is a new means of transport that can fly like an aircraft and take off and land vertically like a helicopter, sometimes called personal aerial vehicle. This paper compares it to the existing vehicles that may compete with it and addresses the estimation of its performances in hover, cruise flight, and the transition phase. The main parameters affecting performances are then discussed. Considerable space is dedicated to the battery mass to total mass ratio.

Preliminary Design of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Systems for Emerging UAM Rotorcraft Architectures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chana Anna Saias ◽  
Ioannis Goulos ◽  
Ioannis Roumeliotis ◽  
Vassilios Pachidis ◽  
Marko Bacic
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Rotor Aerodynamics ◽  
Tilt Rotor ◽  
Integrated Methodology ◽  
Hybrid Electric ◽  
Battery Energy ◽  
Optimal Implementation

Abstract The increasing demands for air-taxi operations together with the ambitious targets for reduced environmental impact have driven significant interest in alternative rotorcraft architectures and propulsion systems. The design of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Systems (HEPSs) for rotorcraft is seen as being able to contribute to those goals. This work aims to conduct a comprehensive design and trade-off analysis of hybrid powerplants for rotorcraft, targeting enhanced payload-range capability and fuel economy. An integrated methodology for the design, performance assessment and optimal implementation of HEPSs for conceptual rotorcraft has been developed. A multi-disciplinary approach is devised comprising models for rotor aerodynamics, flight dynamics, HEPS performance and weight estimation. All models are validated using experimental or flight test data. The methodology is deployed for the assessment of a hybrid-electric tilt-rotor, modelled after the NASA XV-15. This work targets to provide new insight in the preliminary design and sizing of optimally designed HEPSs for novel tilt-rotor aircraft. The paper demonstrates that at present, current battery energy densities (250Wh/kg) severely limit the degree of hybridization if a fixed useful payload and range are to be achieved. However, it is also shown that if advancements in battery energy density to 500Wh/kg are realized, a significant increase in the level of hybridization and hence reduction of fuel burned and carbon output relative to the conventional configuration can be attained. The methodology presented is flexible enough to be applied to alternative rotorcraft configurations and propulsion systems.

scholarly journals Evaluation and Comparison of Hybrid Wing VTOL UAV with Four Different Electric Propulsion Systems

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Jianan Zong ◽  
Bingjie Zhu ◽  
Zhongxi Hou ◽  
Xixiang Yang ◽  
Jiaqi Zhai
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Urban Traffic ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Performance Requirements ◽  
Vtol Uav ◽  
Battery Energy ◽  
Selection Of

Electric propulsion technology has attracted much attention in the aviation industry at present. It has the advantages of environmental protection, safety, low noise, and high design freedom. An important research branch of electric propulsion aircraft is electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, which is expected to play an important role in urban traffic in the future. Limited by battery energy density, all electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are unable to meet the longer voyage. Series/parallel hybrid-electric propulsion and turboelectric propulsion are considered to be applied to VTOL UAVs to improve performances. In this paper, the potential of these four configurations of electric propulsion systems for small VTOL UAVs are evaluated and compared. The main purpose is to analyze the maximum takeoff mass and fuel consumption of VTOL UAVs with different propulsion systems that meet the same performance requirements and designed mission profiles. The differences and advantages of the four types propulsion VTOL UAV in the maximum takeoff mass and fuel consumption are obtained, which provides a basis for the design and configuration selection of VTOL UAV propulsion system.

scholarly journals Feasibility of a Helium Closed-Cycle Gas Turbine for UAV Propulsion

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Emmanuel O. Osigwe ◽  
Arnold Gad-Briggs ◽  
Theoklis Nikolaidis
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Component Design ◽  
Readiness Level ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Turbine Design

When selecting a design for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the choice of the propulsion system is vital in terms of mission requirements, sustainability, usability, noise, controllability, reliability and technology readiness level (TRL). This study analyses the various propulsion systems used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), paying particular focus on the closed-cycle propulsion systems. The study also investigates the feasibility of using helium closed-cycle gas turbines for UAV propulsion, highlighting the merits and demerits of helium closed-cycle gas turbines. Some of the advantages mentioned include high payload, low noise and high altitude mission ability; while the major drawbacks include a heat sink, nuclear hazard radiation and the shield weight. A preliminary assessment of the cycle showed that a pressure ratio of 4, turbine entry temperature (TET) of 800 °C and mass flow of 50 kg/s could be used to achieve a lightweight helium closed-cycle gas turbine design for UAV mission considering component design constraints.

Electromagnetic emission experiences using electric propulsion systems

1989 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 534-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Sovey ◽  
Lynnette M. Carney ◽  
Steven C. Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Electromagnetic Emission ◽  
Propulsion Systems
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