Airbus, Rolls-Royce & Siemens Partners On Hybrid-Electric E-Fan X Demonstrator Project
A partnership between global aircraft manufacturer Airbus, engine maker Rolls-Royce, and electronics and electrical engineering giant Siemens is aiming to have an experimental hybrid-electric demonstrator engine called the E-Fan X could ready for flight by 2020. The companies announced the partnership in late November at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London. The project specifically involves replacing one of four gas turbine engines on a BAe 146 testbed aircraft with a hybrid-electric motor to conduct an extensive ground test campaign.
Testing
If initial testing with the 2-megawatt electric motor the companies will use shows proper system maturity, the companies plan to replace a second gas turbine engine with another electric motor. Broadly, the demonstrator could represent a significant step forward for commercial aircraft, the companies stated in a press release.
Paul Eremenko, Airbus CTO, noted that lessons already learned from electric flight demonstrators—including from the Cri-Cri, e-Genius, E-Star, E-Fan 1.2, and work Airbus completed with Siemens on a 2016 E-Aircraft Systems House collaboration—will “pave the way to a hybrid single-aisle commercial aircraft that is safe, efficient, and cost-effective.” He added that “we see hybrid-electric propulsion as a compelling technology for the future of aviation.”
In a statement, the companies explain that the E-Aircraft Systems House initiative “aims at development and maturation of various electric propulsion system components and their terrestrial demonstration across various power classes.” Roland Busch, Siemens CTO, said that the 2016 work with Airbus “opened a new chapter in electric-mobility,” adding that “building up electric propulsion for aircraft” will create new perspectives for Siemens, its customers, and society. “With the E-Fan X partnership, we now take the next step to demonstrate the technology in the air,” he added.
Challenges
Challenges and issues related to high-power propulsion systems the companies plan to investigate via the demonstrator include thermal effects, electric thrust management, altitude, and dynamic effects on electric systems and electromagnetic compatibility issues. Overall, the companies plan to push and mature the technology, performance, safety, and reliability of hybrid-electric technology and create requirements for future certification of electrically powered aircraft. Moreover, they aim to train a new generation of designers and engineers in this area.
Specifically, Airbus will oversee the integration and control architecture of the hybrid-electric propulsion system and batteries and the integration of the system with flight controls. Rolls-Royce is charged with overseeing the system’s turbo-shaft engine, 2-megawatt generator, and power electronics. It will also work with Airbus to adapt the fan to the existing nacelle and electric motor. Siemens will provided the 2-megawatt motor along with its power electronic control unit, inverter, power distribution system, and more.
The companies note they’re committed to meeting EU technical environmental goals outlined in the European Commission’s Flightpath 2050 Vision for Aviation, including reducing CO2 by 75%, NOx by 90%, and noise by 65%. “Electric and hybrid-electric propulsion are seen today as among the most promising technologies for addressing these challenges,” the companies state, noting that “these cannot be achieved with the technologies existing today.”
Source: Airbus