In this section
This is a selection of publications from the Structural Power Composites Group. For a full list of publications, please see below.
@article{Karadotcheva:2021:10.3390/en14196006,
author = {Karadotcheva, E and Nguyen, SN and Greenhalgh, ES and Shaffer, MSP and Kucernak, ARJ and Linde, P},
doi = {10.3390/en14196006},
journal = {Energies},
title = {Structural power performance targets for future electric aircraft},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en14196006},
volume = {14},
year = {2021}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - 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.
AU - Karadotcheva,E
AU - Nguyen,SN
AU - Greenhalgh,ES
AU - Shaffer,MSP
AU - Kucernak,ARJ
AU - Linde,P
DO - 10.3390/en14196006
PY - 2021///
SN - 1996-1073
TI - Structural power performance targets for future electric aircraft
T2 - Energies
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en14196006
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/103192
VL - 14
ER -
Professor Emile S Greenhalgh
Department of Aeronautics
Imperial College London
South Kensington Campus
London SW7 2AZ
+44 (0)7958 210 089
e.greenhalgh@imperial.ac.uk