TECH TALK
delay any signifi cant changes to such aircraft. Much of the industry expects that the fi rst electric vertical take- off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles to be air taxis (i.e., Uber in the skies) for our local mobility needs. Regional aircraft for ~100 passengers and between 300 - 1000 miles are already being worked on. While smaller aircraft will seemingly face evolutionary changes, larger aircraft will see more Incremental changes (at least initially).
Each of the major engine
manufacturers is working on solutions in this area, and many of the initial advancements are either ready for use, or nearly ready. The United Technology Research Center is developing an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) battery-assist system and a platform
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that re-optimizes turbofans in cruise mode and indicate that the overall energy reduction has been up to 5% so far. According to a recent article in Flight Global, the chief technology offi cer at United Technologies was interviewed at the Farnborough air show and stated that the company is developing a number of hybrid- electric demonstrators. While there is some speculation whether UTC will look to build its own aircraft in the future (perhaps due to the ongoing pricing squeeze that the OEMs are putting on suppliers, as well as how Boeing is working on bringing in some aircraft parts development and manufacturing in-house), only time will tell. Back in August 2017, GE Aviation
released a white paper outlining the substantial work it said it was doing
on hybrid-electric motor-generators. In one ground-based experiment, GE Aviation used a motor rated at 1 MW to turn a 3.3-meter (11-foot) propeller. In another experiment, it used the compressors of a GE F110 jet engine to power a generator rated at 1 MW; meanwhile, the engine continued to produce thrust. Let’s take a look at some of the noteworthy eff orts underway.
ZUNUM ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT (BACKED BY BOEING / JETBLUE / SAFRAN)
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CONCORDE BATTERY CORPORATION 12
DOMmagazine.com | dec 2018 | jan 2019
One of the companies which has attracted much attention is Seattle/ Chicago-based Zunum. Its initial off ering is the Zunum Aero ZA10 12-seat, 700-mile commuter aircraft. Zunum envisions that this aircraft will reduce travel times on regional routes in half and emissions by up to 80% while reducing seat-mile costs (with estimates of $250 per hour for the aircraft or ~8 cents per available seat mile). This fi rm is backed by Boeing, JetBlue Ventures and the US Dept of Commerce Clean Energy Fund, and has now added Safran Helicopter Engines (France) to its team. Safran will develop and certify a 1,700–2,000 shp (shaft horsepower) Ardiden 3 turboshaft version to power the ZA10. This turbine is already in use, but will be modifi ed to produce up to 500 kW to re-charge the battery packs and provide power for the electric propellers. The Zunum solution has ducted fans driven by electric motors. The motors get their energy from batteries, that are charged while on the ground, and are used for climb. While in cruise the onboard jet turbine will recharge the batteries and keep the electric motors spinning. Ground and fl ight testing is scheduled to begin in 2019. Zunum and the FAA are working together to develop certifi cation standards for electric aircraft. It expects to start operating its fi rst planes in the early
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