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Rolls-Royce has successfully ground-tested a hybrid-electric propulsion system that can be used in air taxis, general aviation aircraft and helicopters in Indianapolis, United States.
A hybrid version of the M250 gas turbine, an engine used in more than 170 different aircraft, was tested in three modes: hybrid series, parallel hybrid and turbo-electric.
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The M250 Hybrid should be used as a propulsion facility with power ranging from 500 kW to 1 MW on a range of platforms to enable distributed electric propulsion, including eVTOLs (vertical take-off and landing vehicles).
Rolls-Royce plans to conduct experimental test flights with the engine installed on an aircraft in 2021.
Mike Mekhiche, Deputy Director of Rolls-Royce Electrical, said, "The successful testing of the M250 Hybrid System is an important step forward in the provision of a hybrid-electric propulsion system that will enable a new, quieter clbad of air transportation. and cleaner. "
During testing, each component and subsystem of the hybrid engine was individually tested for its electrical performance. The tests consisted in simulating the use during the take-off, cruising, landing and taxiing phases, and confirmed the suitability of the system for a range of transport platforms, in particular planes with a maximum range of 1,000 km (1,600 km) and a maximum weight of 2,000 kg would support the Rolls-Royce eVTOL concept unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show last year.
The Rolls-Royce hybrid electric propulsion system demonstrator incorporates an M250 gas turbine engine with a high energy density battery system, power generators, power converters and an advanced power management and control system. The power management system optimizes the overall performance of the drive so that the system is compatible with different platforms, while generating efficiency gains, reducing noise and emissions.
The hybrid electric propulsion system has been implemented in the following configurations:
Hybrid Series: In this configuration, the engine operates as a turbo-generator that charges an on-board battery system and does not contribute directly to thrust. All the power needed for thrust systems and other embedded systems is provided by the battery.
Parallel Hybrid: In this configuration, the thrust of the platform is provided by a combination of the engine (mechanical thrust) and the electrical system (electric thrust), while the other energy requirements of the aircraft are met by drums.
Turbo-Electric Mode: In this configuration, the battery system is redundant. The engine operates as a turbo generator providing electrical power to meet the thrust and other power requirements of the aircraft.
According to Rolls-Royce, the M250 hybrid power pack completes the 2.5 MW system being developed for large aircraft, including regional aviation, and is being tested with Airbus on the platform E-Fan X demo
Rolls-Royce said it chose the M250 for testing because of its maturity, power density, ease of maintenance, and high reliability. Over the last fifty years, the M250 versions have logged more than 250 million flight hours and nearly 33,000 M250 engines have been delivered to their customers.
Read our Q & A with Dr. Rob Watson, head of Rolls-Royce's Electrical Division, on the main technical hurdles to hybrid electric propulsion for aircraft and the company's approach to hybrid electric development.
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