Alternative Power Sources

Designing a Power Generation System for a More-Electric Aircraft

It is theorized that systems and equipment for an All Electric Aircraft (AEA) will be developed 20 years hence as a More-Electric Aircraft (MEA) with no bleed system, which is a concept typified by the Boeing 787, and electric powered propulsion (including electric distributed thrust or electric hybrids by gas turbine power generation), which is expected to be realized after the 2040s. In this trend, a More-Electric Engine (MEE) plays the roles shown in Table 1.

A conventional engine has two responsibilities: propulsion as a primary function, and a power plant for the secondary systems power source as a subsidiary function. This article will focus on the expectation that MEE will be provided as a future key technology for the total energy management of MEA. Specifically, the engine will be an important factor not only for the conventional role of high efficiency and low emission, but also for optimization between the propulsion system and electric power system because an MEA integrates power management into the electric power generated by engines. In addition, the MEE will also have to consider the importance for optimization of the aircraft in integrated management by advancing management of fuel burns and the thermal control system, optimization of engine control and information sharing with the entire aircraft, and the integration of flight control.