Aircraft electrification for propulsion is a promising way to alleviate the negative environmental impact of conventional carbon-powered aviation. Inclusion of the electrical powertrain aims to enhance design freedom allowing for more efficient power systems and operational schemes. In this work a design space exploration is performed aiming to derive power management guidelines based on aircraft environmental performance. A 19-passenger commuter aircraft employing the series/parallel partial hybrid-electric architecture is examined. Two underwing-mounted turboprop engines are combined with a boundary layer ingestion fan mounted in the aircraft aft and powered by an electrical drive. The primary electrical energy source is a battery system. A multi-disciplinary framework is utilized, comprising modelling approaches for multi-point thermal engine design, physics-based electrical component sizing and performance, aircraft sizing, mission design, and environmental assessment. The investigation revealed that the reference designed hybrid-electric configuration with entry-into-service 2035-assumed technologies yields roughly 18% improvement in block consumption and emissions, but an 8% increase in maximum take-off weight, compared to its 2014 conventional counterpart. The design space exploration for an optimal power management scheme indicated a minimum ratio of 1:1.35 between cruise and design point hybridization power. However, even the optimally operated hybrid aircraft showcases worse environmental performance compared to the conventional design of same entry-into-service date. The investigation has revealed that the complex powertrain and hybrid architecture selected may be more suitable for larger class aircraft, with the accumulated performance benefits reaching the order of 5% for the hybrid designs explored under relaxed top-level constraints.
Hybrid-electric propulsion is recognized as an enabling technology for reducing aviation’s environmental impact. In this work, a serial/parallel hybrid configuration of a 19-passenger commuter aircraft is investigated. Two underwing-mounted turboprop engines are connected to electrical branches via generators. One rear fuselage-mounted electrically driven ducted fan is coupled with an electric motor and respective electrical branch. A battery system completes the selected architecture. Consistency in modeling accuracy of propulsion systems is aimed for by development of an integrated framework. A multipoint synthesis scheme for the gas turbine and electric fan is combined with physics-based analytical modeling for electrical components. Influence of turbomachinery and electrical power system design points on the integrated power system is examined. An opposing trend between electrical and conventional powertrain mass is driven by electric fan design power. Power system efficiency improvements in the order of 2% favor high-power electric fan designs. A trade-off in electrical power system mass and performance arises from oversizing of electrical components for load manipulation. Branch efficiency improvements of up to 3% imply potential to achieve battery mass reduction due to fewer transmission losses. A threshold system voltage of 1 kV, yielding 32% mass reduction of electrical branches and performance improvements of 1–2%, is identified. This work sets the foundation for interpreting mission-level electrification outcomes that are driven by interactions on the integrated power system. Areas of conflicting interests and synergistic opportunities are highlighted for optimal conceptual design of hybrid powertrains.
Hybrid-electric propulsion is recognized as one of the enabling technologies for reducing aviation’s environmental impact. In this work a serial/parallel hybrid configuration of a 19-passenger commuter aircraft is investigated. Two underwing-mounted turboprop engines are connected to electrical branches via generators. One rear fuselage-mounted electrically driven ducted fan is coupled with an electric motor and respective electrical branch. A battery system completes the selected architecture. Consistency in modelling accuracy of propulsion systems is aimed for by development of an integrated framework. A multi-point synthesis scheme for the gas turbine and electric fan is combined with physics-based analytical modelling for electrical components. Influence of turbomachinery and electrical power system design points on the integrated power system is examined. An opposing trend between electrical and conventional powertrain mass is driven by electric fan design power. Power system efficiency improvements in the order of 2% favor high-power electric fan designs. A trade-off in electrical power system mass and performance arises from oversizing of electrical components for load manipulation. Branch efficiency improvements of up to 3% imply potential to achieve battery mass reduction due to fewer transmission losses in mission-significant segments. A threshold system voltage of 1kV, yielding 32% mass reduction of electrical branches and performance improvements of 1-2%, is defined. Above the indicated threshold, benefits are limited, and system design complexity increases unfavorably. This work sets the foundation for interpreting mission-level electrification outcomes that are driven by interactions on the integrated power system. Areas of conflicting interests and synergistic opportunities are highlighted for optimal conceptual design of hybrid powertrains.
This work focuses on the feasibility of a 19-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft, to serve the short-haul segment within the 200-600 nautical miles. Its ambition is to answer some dominating research questions, during the evaluation and design of aircraft based on electric propulsion architectures. The potential entry into service of such aircraft is foreseen in 2030. A literature review is performed, to identify similar concepts that are under research and development. After the requirements definition, the first level of conceptual design is employed. Based on a set of assumptions, a methodology for the sizing of the hybrid-electric aircraft is described to explore the basis of the design space. Additionally, a methodology for the energy storage positioning is provided, to highlight the multidisciplinary aspects between the sizing of an aircraft, the selected architecture (series/parallel partial hybrid) and the energy storage operational characteristics. The design choices are driven by the aim to reduce CO2 emissions and accommodate boundary layer ingestion engines, with aircraft electrification. The results show that it is not possible to fulfill the initial design requirements (600 nmi) with a fully-electric aircraft configuration, due to the farfetched battery necessities. It is also highlighted that compliance with airworthiness certifications is favored by switching to hybrid-electric aircraft configurations and relaxing the design requirements (targeted range, payload, battery technology). Finally, the lower degree of hybridization (40%) is observed to have a higher energy efficiency (12% lower energy consumption and larger CO2 reduction), compared to the higher degree of hybridization (50%), with respect to the conventional configuration.
This work is a feasibility study of a 19-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft, to serve the short-haul segment within the 200-600 nautical miles. Its ambition is to answer some dominating research questions, during the evaluation and design of aircraft based on alternative propulsion architectures. The potential entry into service (EIS) is foreseen beyond 2030. A literature review is performed to identify similar concepts under research and development. After the requirements' definition, the first level of conceptual design is employed. The objective of design selections is driven by the need to reduce CO2 emissions and accommodate aircraft electrification with boundary layer ingestion engines. Based on a set of assumptions, a methodology for the sizing of the hybrid-electric aircraft is described to explore the basis of the design space, incorporating a parametric analysis for the consideration of boundary layer ingestion effects. Additionally, a methodology for the energy storage positioning is provided to highlight the multidisciplinary aspects between the sizing of an aircraft, the selected architecture (series/ parallel partial hybrid), and the storage characteristics. The results show that it is not possible to fulfill the initial design requirements (600 nmi) with a fully-electric aircraft configuration, due to the farfetched battery necessities. It is also highlighted that compliance with airworthiness standards is favored by switching to hybrid-electric aircraft configurations and relaxing the design requirements (targeted range, payload, battery technology). Finally, the lower degree of hybridization (40%) is observed to have a higher energy efficiency (-12% energy consumption) compared to the higher degree of hybridization (50%) and greater CO2 reduction, with respect to the conventional configuration.
The parallel hybrid (or boosted) turbofan engine alleviates the system complexity of radical electrified powertrain architectures, while also demonstrates substantial benefits in reducing specific fuel consumption. This conservative, yet promising, electrified configuration incorporates an electrical drive coupled with the engine low-pressure or gearbox fan spool. Sophisticated models for the gas turbine and the electrical drive system are developed. The former deploys a multi-point design matching scheme coupled with an installed engine performance approach, as well as an engine sizing and weight estimation tool. The latter incorporates an analytical electrical machine sizing and performance methodology. The objective of this paper is to shed light on the optimal parallel hybrid engine design, considering installed cycle performance and tight coupling of engine and electrical drive systems. The impact of installation drag components on the integrated powertrain system performance is analyzed and design trade-offs are explored. Electrical machine efficiency, propulsion system weight and installed specificfuelconsumptiondemonstrateopposingtrendswithvaryingspecificthrustfordifferent electrical drive installation positions and mechanical connections. It is shown that fan spinner-mounted electrical machine which is mechanically coupled to the low-pressure spool presents the greatest potential in terms of electrical machine efficiency and propulsion system installed performance. A 11.23% and 15.11% increase in installed specific fuel consumption at Top of Climb and Cruise, respectively, is observed for the Cruise-based optimal specific thrust variant, rendering installation effects and electrical drive considerations critical for future low-specific thrust hybrid-electric aero-engine concepts.
Compressor performance tests are mainly focused on the typical range of operation, resulting in limited knowledge of compressor behavior in the low-speed region. The main target of this work comprises the generation of compressor characteristics at low part-load by giving particular insight into the physical aspect of this operating condition. It is necessary for running transient and part-load performance simulation and can be considered as the first crucial step toward an optimal engine starting schedule. Modelling the low part-load operating regime requires accurate component performance maps extended to the low-speed area, where engine starting and altitude relight occur. In this work, a robust methodology for generating compressor maps in the low part-load operating regime is developed. Compressor geometry and typical operation range compressor map are required as inputs. Two different modelling processes are incorporated within this methodology. Extrapolation based on the principle of similarity laws with modified law exponents constitutes the first modelling process, which seems inaccurate when predicting compressor performance at fixed-rotor conditions. Interpolation based on the fixed-rotor characteristic constitutes the second modelling process, which can be either linear or adaptive. The adaptive interpolation scheme was developed by the authors and generates low-speed characteristics using the same allocation trend as the one obtained from given performance data. It is observed that performance data points of each β-line follow an exponential trend in mass flow differences while increasing rotational speed, with a calculated average relativized Root Mean Square (RMS) error of less than 5%. Adapting the same trend in mass flow to the low-speed region, a compressor performance map with continuous exponential trend in all characteristics (for part- and full-load conditions) can be achieved. Implementing the developed methodology on the High Pressure Compressor (HPC) of the Energy Efficient Engine (E3) project is also presented, showcasing its applicability and the merit of it being incorporated into any conventional performance prediction tool. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis for input variables, namely compressor exit effective area and pressure loss model coefficients is carried out, demonstrating the significant impact of the former on the shape of the low part-load characteristics. Generation of compressor characteristics at low-speeds with this methodology can be viewed as an enabler for running credible transient starting simulation and transient diagnostics, thereby defining an optimal starting schedule, applicable to both power generation and aerospace industry.
The emerging need for cost- and energy-efficient propulsion systems have shifted the research interest to radical concepts, with several challenges to overcome in order to enter into service. However, revitalizing old yet provably successful engine designs-a practice followed by engine manufacturers over the years-can provide low-risk alternative solutions to move immediate market demands. The paper reviews this approach, known as concept of growth engines or core commonality, and investigates how a geometrically fixed or geometrically similar engine core can be utilized across a family of engines. The development programs of the highly successful CFM56 and PT6 engine families are analyzed, proving the success of this concept over the years. The idea is based on the engineering paradigm of product families and is briefly presented from a theoretical perspective. Implementation methods and simulation tools to initiate, conceptualize, design, and evaluate an engine family program are reviewed. The potential application of engine core commonality into electrified propulsion systems is investigated. Design challenges and opportunities that electrification imposes to the growth engine concept are discussed. Finally, the concept of growth electrified propulsion systems is introduced, conveying future research directions to achieve a successful family of engines for electrified applications.
This paper presents the development and application of a modelling approach of variable geometry conceptsfor low pressure ratio fans; namely Variable Area Nozzle and Variable Pitch Fan. An enhanced approachfor Outlet Guide Vane pressure loss predictions and an aerothermodynamic analysis of variable pitchconcept are developed and integrated into a multi-disciplinary conceptual engine design framework. Astreamline curvature algorithm is deployed for the derivation of the off-design fan performance map,alleviating scaling issues from higher pressure ratio fan designs. Correction deltas are derived through thevariable pitch analysis for calculating the re-shaped off-design fan performance map. The aforementionedvariable geometry concepts are evaluated in terms of surge margin at engine and aircraft level for a lowpressure ratio aft-fan of a hybrid-electric configuration. Performance assessments carried out suggest thata +8° closing of fan blade cascades leads to a 33% surge margin improvement (with reference being thesurge margin without variable geometry) compared to a 25% improvement achieved by +20% opening thenozzle area at end of runway take-off conditions. Although weight and complexity implications of variablegeometry are not considered, the integrated modelling approach is shown to be able to assess and comparesuch novel engine technologies for low pressure ratio fans in terms of operability.
A conceptual design of a hybrid Gas Turbine - Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system is presented for civil aviation applications. The system operates using hydrogen as fuel, for the aircraft’s propulsion, while at the same time produces electrical energy in the fuel cell. Hydrogen is produced during flight by reformation of methane. The motivation of the study is to investigate hydrogen’s use for aviation purposes, so the hybrid system’s operation characteristics need to be examined. A configuration is designed, where a SOFC and the burner is modeled as one and simulated, in a modern multidisciplinary programming environment, in order to analyze the thermodynamic characteristics of the hybrid system. The fuel cell sets into motion when the aircraft reaches top of climb. During operation, liquefied natural gas is converted to hydrogen in the fuel cell and part of it is used to produce electrical energy while the rest for combustion. To determine the efficiency of the system, its performance was simulated using two scenarios, one for longhaul flights and one for short-haul flights. Comparing the results, for long-haul flights, the hybrid system presents a reduction in fuel consumption and an increase in thermal efficiency. For flights of a short range, the existing conditions in the fuel cell inlet were found to be prohibitive for it’s operation and the use of the hybrid system ineffective. For the system’s efficiency, the larger the pressure in the SOFC’s inlet the better. However, SOFC’s pressure limits restrict the pressure range and the cell’s use only during flight. Concluding, according to the study’s results, the hybrid system can operate in flight conditions, making the use of hydrogen in civil aviation possible. As a result, a 12% and 35% benefit is achieved, in fuel saving and thermal efficiency respectively.
Hybrid electric propulsion system-based aircraft designs are paving the path toward a future greener aviation sector and thus, have been the major focus of the aeronautical community. The fuel efficiency improvement associated to such propulsion system configurations are realized at the aircraft level. In order to assess such benefits, a radical shift in the subsystem modeling requirements and of a conceptual-level aircraft design environment are necessary. This work highlights performance model development work pertaining to different hybrid electric propulsion system components and the development of a design platform that facilitates tighter integration of different novel propulsion system disciplines at the aircraft level. Furthermore, a serial/parallel partially distributed hybrid electric propulsion system is chosen as the candidate configuration to assess the potential benefits and associated tradeoffs by conducting multidisciplinary design space exploration studies. It is established that the distributed hybrid electric configurations pose the potential for aircraft structural weight reduction benefits. The study further illustrates the impacts of onboard charging during the low thrust requirement segments, quantitatively. The provision of onboard charging lowers the potential for block fuel savings, and improvement in battery specific energy can make it more promising, which is also dependent on the hybridization power level. It is established that distributed propulsion system configurations particularly benefit from a high aspect ratio wing structure, which manifests in high hybridization power levels. A high voltage level transmission system with more efficient electrical components enhances opportunities for achieving block fuel saving benefits.
Hybrid electric propulsion system based aircraft designs are paving the path towards a future greener aviation sector and thus, have been the major focus of the aeronautical community. The fuel efficiency improvements of such propulsion system configurations are realized at the aircraft level. In order to assess such benefits, a radical shift in the sub-system modeling requirements and an integrated conceptual aircraft design environment is necessary. This work highlights performance model development work pertaining to different hybrid electric propulsion system components and development of a design platform which facilitates tighter integration of different novel propulsion system disciplines at aircraft level. Furthermore, a serial/parallel partially distributed hybrid electric propulsion system is chosen as the candidate configuration to assess the potential benefits and associated trade-offs by conducting multidisciplinary design space exploration studies. It is established that the distributed hybrid electric configurations pose the potential for aircraft structural weight reduction benefits. The study further illustrates the impacts from onboard charging during the low thrust requirement segments, quantitatively. It is highlighted that the amount of off-take power extraction for onboard charging of the battery is limited due to engine operability and higher specific fuel consumption issues. Though provisioning of onboard charging lowers the potential for block fuel savings, improvement in battery specific energy can make it more promising, which is also dependent on the hybridization power level. It is established that distributed propulsion system configurations particularly benefit from a high aspect ratio wing structure, which manifests for high hybridization power levels. A high voltage level transmission system with more efficient electrical components, enhances opportunities for achieving block fuel saving benefits.
In this paper, a turbo‐electric propulsion system was analyzed, and its performance was assessed. The aircraft considered here was a single‐aisle, medium‐range configuration targeting a capacity of 150 Pax. The propulsion concept comprised two boosted geared turbofan engines mounted under‐wing. Those main engines were supported by an electrically driven aft‐propulsor contributing to the thrust generation and by taking advantage of ingesting the boundary layer of the fuselage for potentially higher levels of propulsive efficiency and allowing for the improved operation of the main engines. The performance assessment as carried out in the context of this paper involved different levels: Firstly, based on the reference aircraft and the detailed description of its major components, the engine performance model for both main engines, as well as for the electrically driven aft‐propulsor was set up. The methodology, as introduced, has already been applied in the context of hybrid‐electric propulsion and allowed for the aforementioned aircraft sizing, as well as the subsequent gas turbine multi‐point synthesis (simulation). A geared turbofan architecture with 2035 technology assumptions was considered for the main engine configuration. The present trade study focused on the design and performance analysis of the aft‐propulsor and how it affected the performance of the main engines, due to the electric power generation. In order to allow for a more accurate description of the performance of this particular module, the enhanced streamline curvature method with an underlying and pre‐optimized profile database was used to design a propulsor tailored to meet the requirements of the aft propulsor as derived from the cycle synthesis and overall aircraft specification; existing design expertise for novel and highly integrated propulsors could be taken advantage of herein. The resulting performance characteristics from the streamline curvature method were then fed back to the engine performance model in a closely coupled approach in order to have a more accurate description of the module behavior. This direct coupling allowed for enhanced sensitivity studies, monitoring different top‐level parameters, such as the thrust/power split between the main engines and the aft propulsor. As a result, different propulsor specifications and fan designs with optimal performance characteristics were achieved, which in return affected the performance of all subsystems considered.
Parallel hybrid turboprop engines propose a means to reduce fuel consumption of regional aircraft due to lower flight velocities. They feature an electric drive, typically on the free power turbine, and require a design trade-off between the gas turbine and electric power sub-system characteristics. Degrees of freedom include the nozzle expansion, the propeller power loading, the gear ratio, and the selection of shaft speeds. The latter for instance requires a trade-off between propeller and free power turbine efficiency. For a parallel hybrid, the electric machine efficiency becomes a third factor to consider. The objective of this paper is to expose some key aspects of these trade-offs in terms of efficiency and weight. The paper applies sophisticated methodology in both the gas turbine and electrical power domains. For the gas turbine, multi-point design is used. Here, an extension of established synthesis matching schemes is used, which covers the design and operation rules also for the electric components of the hybrid. For the electrical machine, fully analytical sizing is used, which also captures the impact of cooling. For all main gas turbine components and the electric machine, the geometry is estimated based on the sizing methodology, and used as input for the weight estimation. Results are presented for parallel hybrid electric 2.5-spool geared turboprop architectures fulfilling requirements of a notional 19 passenger regional aircraft. Uninstalled fuel consumption can be lower for the hybrid than the conventional baseline, and the key relations to typical cycle parameters such as overall pressure ratio and shaft speed selection are exposed. Overall, the benefit of hybridization is low however with the concept of operations inspired by hybrid turbofans. This is related to differences in contradicting cycle design requirements.
Hybrid-electric propulsion has emerged as a promising technology to mitigate the adverse environmental impact of civil aviation. Boosting conventional gas turbines with electric power improves mission performance and operability. In this work the impact of electrification on pollutant emissions and direct operating cost of geared turbofan configurations is evaluated for an 150-passenger aircraft. A baseline two-and-a-half-shaft geared turbofan, representative of year 2035 entry-into-service technology, is employed. Parallel hybridization is implemented through coupling a battery-powered electric motor to the engine low-speed shaft. A multidisciplinary design space exploration framework is employed comprising modelling methods for multi-point engine design, aircraft sizing, performance and pollutant emissions, mission and economic analysis. A probabilistic approach is developed considering uncertainties in the evaluation of direct operating cost. Sensitivities to electrical power system technology levels, as well as fuel price and emissions taxation are quantified at different time-frames. The benefits of lean direct injection are explored along short-, medium-, and long-range missions, demonstrating 32% NOx savings compared to traditional rich-burn, quick-mix, lean-burn technologies in short-range operations. The impact of electrification on the enhancement of lean direct injection benefits is investigated. For hybrid-electric powerplants, the take-off-to-cruise turbine entry temperature ratio is 2.5% lower than the baseline, extending the corresponding NOx reductions to the level of 46% in short-range missions. This work sheds light on the environmental and economic potential and limitations of a hybrid-electric propulsion concept towards a greener and sustainable civil aviation.