{"id":11573,"date":"2017-08-31T14:50:26","date_gmt":"2017-08-31T21:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11573"},"modified":"2017-08-31T14:50:26","modified_gmt":"2017-08-31T21:50:26","slug":"electric-propulsion-for-big-birds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/electric-propulsion-for-big-birds\/","title":{"rendered":"Electric Propulsion for Big Birds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Graham Warwick reports in the August 25 Aviation Week<\/em><\/a> that NASA is investigating the\u00a0creation of megawatt-scale electric propulsion systems for airliners.\u00a0 These would be much more powerful than those in cars or even semi-trucks, and far lighter than equivalent units in ships.<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s research involves partnering with the University of Illinois, Ohio State University, General Electric, and Boeing.\u00a0 NASA Glenn Research Center is working on its own self-cooled, superconducting wound field synchronous motor as part of the overall effort.<\/p>\n

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Concept with boundary-layer-ingesting electric fan in the tail is an option for a 2035-time frame partially turboelectric commercial aircraft. Credit: NASA<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

NASA\u2019s focus, according to the article, \u201cis on electric machines that can be used as generators (sources) and motors (loads) and power electronics that convert AC to DC (rectifiers) and DC to AC (inverters).\u201d\u00a0 Research includes wiring systems that can distribute high levels of electrical power.\u00a0 These efforts would support \u201cnear- or medium-term development of partially turboelectric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aircraft up to single-aisle airliner size.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ambitious Goals, Different Approaches<\/h4>\n

Goals are ambitious, with NASA Research Agreements (NRAs) awarded to the University of Illinois and Ohio State University to develop electric systems that can achieve 13 kilowatts per kilogram and efficiency greater than 93 percent.\u00a0 NASA Glenn\u2019s target is 16 kW\/kg and 98-percent efficiency.<\/p>\n

General Electric and the University of Illinois share an NRA to make power converters that produce 19 kW\/kg and an efficiency target of 99 percent.\u00a0 Boeing\u2019s working on a cryogenic converter with goals of 26 kW\/kg and an efficiency of 99.3 percent.\u00a0 Compare these goals with the Energy Department\u2019s 2020 goal of 14.1 kW\/kg for vehicle power electronics.<\/p>\n

Each NRA promotes a different kind of motor.\u00a0 The University of Illinois\u2019 one-megawatt permanent magnet synchronous motor is a large outrunner not unlike those on model aircraft with a carbon fiber overwrap and permanent magnets that rotate at 18,000 rpm.\u00a0 The University has already done full-speed rotor testing and is working to integrate the air-cooled unit into a Roll-Royce Liberty Works Electrically Variable Engine.<\/p>\n

The university has conducted full-speed rotor testing and design work on integrating the air-cooled motor into the\u00a0Rolls-Royce<\/a>\u00a0Liberty Works\u2019 engine. \u00a0This parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system uses a battery-powered motor to help drive the turbofan for taxiing, takeoff, and idle descent, reducing fuel consumption. The team has studied one-to-2.6 megawatt motors.<\/p>\n

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Concept with boundary-layer-ingesting electric fan in the tail is an option for a 2035-time frame partially turboelectric commercial aircraft. Credit: NASA<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Taking a different approach Ohio State is working on a 2.7-megawatt ring induction motor. The one-meter (3.3-foot)-diameter ring rotates at 2,700 rpm, the outside rotor driven by magnetic induction from the magnetic field produced by the stator winding. \u00a0A tape conductor wound around the stator drives the rotor. Part of the conductor tape outside the active region has direct liquid cooling, allowing high current density in the stator and high specific power.<\/p>\n

Ohio State\u2019s three motors; 300 kW, one megawatt and 2.7-megawatt prototypes are supposed to validate cooling, manufacturing, and performance.\u00a0 OSU also has a 10-megawatt ring motor integrated with a turbofan, spinning at 5,000 rpm.\u00a0 This complicates structural design and leads to windage losses (caused by air resistance) at speeds between the rotor and stator approaching Mach 1.<\/p>\n

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NASA Glenn Research Center\u2019s self-cooled, superconducting wound-field electric motor has the cryocooler integrated into the rotor. Credit: NASA<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

NASA Glenn\u2019s 1.4 megawatt wound field synchronous motor combines a self-cooled superconducting rotor with a slotless stator to boost power density and efficiency without the weight of external cooling.\u00a0 A cryocooler integrated into the rotor keeps the high-temperature superconductors on the rotor winding from overheating.\u00a0 This motor might be able to directly drive a fan.<\/p>\n

Noise considerations<\/strong><\/h4>\n

NASA\u2019s report on expected noise levels<\/a> seems internally contradictory, with graphs showing stadium rock noise levels in some instances while the text claims lower than conventional jet noise levels for the Ohio State and U of Illinois motors.\u00a0 One bullet point indicates, – Uncertainty is high.\u201d<\/p>\n

Further Research<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ralph Jansen of the University of Illinois project and a NASA Glenn Tech Integration Manager<\/a>, discussed whether power should be distributed from direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) sources.\u00a0 \u201cIf the source is a battery, then it is clear DC makes sense. If the source is a turbofan, it works with AC or DC. There is work to be done to figure out which is best…[and] it gets down to the types of machines used.\u201d<\/p>\n

Voltages could run as high as 10,000 Volts.\u00a0 The highest voltage used in aircraft currently (unavoidable pun) is 540 (\u00b1270 Volts), \u201cbut distributing megawatt-scale power in a single-aisle aircraft will require higher voltage.\u201d\u00a0 The higher the voltage, the lower the weight of cables required to connect things.\u00a0 NASA calculates, \u201cAt 2,000 volts DC, cable weight to deliver 1 megawatt over 150 ft. would be reduced to 200 kg from 900 kg for a 540-volt system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Power Converters<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Related, DC-to-AC converters with such high input voltages will take DC power from batteries and the distribution bus, for instance, and convert it \u201cto controlled, variable-frequency AC that both drives the motor and regulates its speed and torque.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jansen explains material breakthroughs with silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) switchgear allows use of commercially available, high-efficiency gear that allows higher frequencies and lower losses.\u00a0 GE and the University of Illinois are both crafting high-power, liquid-cooled inverters, while Boeing is developing a cryogenically-cooled unit.<\/p>\n

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The NEAT facility is designed to enable end-to-end ground testing of flight-weight electric powertrains for Boeing 737-size aircraft. Credit: NASA<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Aviation Week<\/em> reports that \u201cThe NRAs will be completed in fiscal 2019 and the internal NASA work by 2020\u201d\u00a0 NASA\u2019s Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) at Plum Brook Station in Ohio, will accept the full-scale, flight-weight products that will power Boeing 737-size aircraft.\u00a0 This ambitious time frame and scope of the projects bodes well for timely adoption of greener, cleaner aviation in the near future.<\/p>\n