Flight Optimization Model on Global and Interval Ranges for Conceptual Studies of MEA Systems

In development of more electric aircraft applications, it is important to discuss aircraft energy management on various level of aircraft operation. This paper presents a computationally efficient optimization model for evaluating flight efficiency on global and interval flight ranges. The model is described as an optimal control problem with an objective functional subjected to state condition and control input constraints along a flight path range. A flight model consists of aircraft point-mass equations of motion including engine and aerodynamic models. The engine model generates the engine thrust and fuel consumption rate for operation condition and the aerodynamic model generates the drag force and lift force of an aircraft for flight conditions. These models is identified by data taken from a published literature as an example. First, approximate optimization process is performed for climb, cruise, decent and approach as each interval range path. Next, optimization for global range path involves whole flight path to find optimal operation condition in the flight. In aircraft energy management, fuel consumption converts into not only thrust power, but power of electric, hydraulic and environmental control systems. The flight optimization model with modified engine model will be applicable for evaluating aircraft energy performance on more electric aircraft applications.