FULL-ELECTRIC, HYBRID AND TURBO-ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE AIRCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Recently a huge progress in the field of electrical machines makes them more available for aviation. Assuming a big leap forward of electric technology in the near future, many research institutes around the World examine a revolutionary propulsion system which employs electrical machines. This idea can be a perfect response to a drastically growing air traffic and its demands about emission and fuel consumption reduction. There are already manufactured full electric, ultralight airplanes, which show that the technology is promising and future-proof. What is more it seems to be a key enabler for the development of the other technology that will influence the future of aircraft design and will allow introducing completely new airplane architectures. That is why Institute of Aviation in collaboration with The Ohio State University conducts investigation and analysis on feasibility of using such systems for aircraft propulsion. For this task a completely new tool based on Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) environment is being developed. It will enable to analyse the electric devices conjugated with turbine engine as a whole propulsion system in the matter of its performance characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to present some of the most promising ideas and already accomplished analysis of different kinds of architectures. The analysis and optimization of the system, as well as cost effectiveness will be presented.