hybrid electric
and the reasons why
Hybrid propulsion is not new, especially when we look at the automotive industry, but most attempts at low emission aircraft take the form of 'Bio-Fuel' or pure electric for smaller platforms.
New forms are emerging, such as fuel cell systems as propulsion for smaller aircraft, but its costs and fuel storage are still costly and in early stages of development.
Our platform uses a combination of IC engine and battery power. The IC engine drives a generator giving us the endurance while the batteries give us 'boost' power and emergency power if required.
The philosophy behind our smaller IC engine is one of weight and performance. Most fixed wing aircraft require a larger engine that only runs at peak power output for take-off and emergency manoeuvring. During its lifetime, this type of engine will run at lower power settings to conserve fuel and lower noise but the IC engine is very inefficient due to thermal dynamics and materials used.
The hybrid uses an engine optimized for its fuel consumption when powering the generator for cruise power settings. This means the fuel consumption curve is basically flat in comparison to a standard fixed wing or rotary wing. The optimized setting allows the generator to produce more energy than is needed for cruise and the excess energy is then used to recharge the battery package.
The battery system and generator are combined when peak power
is required, such as take-off or hover. This also means that if a failure should
occur in the generator system, the battery package allows a pilot to make a
safe, powered landing.
future development
We are currently working with two major battery suppliers and also looking closely at the academic work being carried out on fuel cell systems and semi-conductors.