Structural Power Performance Targets for Future Electric Aircraft

Elitza Karadotcheva, Sang N. Nguyen, Emile S. Greenhalgh, Milo S. P. Shaffer, Anthony R. J. Kucernak and Peter Linde
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Elitza Karadotcheva: Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Sang N. Nguyen: Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Emile S. Greenhalgh: Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Milo S. P. Shaffer: Department of Chemistry, White City Campus, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
Anthony R. J. Kucernak: Department of Chemistry, White City Campus, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
Peter Linde: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Königswinterer Straße 522-524, Oberkassel, D-53227 Bonn, Germany

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-30

Abstract: The development of commercial aviation is being driven by the need to improve efficiency and thereby lower emissions. All-electric aircraft present a route to eliminating direct fuel burning emissions, but their development is stifled by the limitations of current battery energy and power densities. Multifunctional structural power composites, which combine load-bearing and energy-storing functions, offer an alternative to higher-energy-density batteries and will potentially enable lighter and safer electric aircraft. This study investigated the feasibility of integrating structural power composites into future electric aircraft and assessed the impact on emissions. Using the Airbus A320 as a platform, three different electric aircraft configurations were designed conceptually, incorporating structural power composites, slender wings and distributed propulsion. The specific energy and power required for the structural power composites were estimated by determining the aircraft mission performance requirements and weight. Compared to a conventional A320, a parallel hybrid-electric A320 with structural power composites >200 Wh/kg could potentially increase fuel efficiency by 15% for a 1500 km mission. For an all-electric A320, structural power composites >400 Wh/kg could halve the specific energy or mass of batteries needed to power a 1000 km flight.

Keywords: multifunctional; structural; power; composites; electric; aircraft (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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