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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11

Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Transport Aircraft Concept and Trade Space Exploration

A trade space exploration of a new NASA regional transport aircraft concept called the SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan is presented. The SUSAN concept uses a 20MW Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) system to enable advance Propulsion Airframe Integration (PAI) in transport category aircraft. Alternative fuels will be used to reduce the amount of emissions per energy used. By combining these features there is the potential to reduce aircraft emissions by 50% per passenger/mile while retaining the size, speed, and range of large regional jets. SUSAN is has a 750 mile economic mission, a 2500 mile design range and a maximum capacity of 180 passengers. The SUSAN configuration utilizes a single aft mounted engine and distributed electric wing-mounted thrusters on a tube and wing arrangement with a T-tail empennage. The SUSAN Electrofan employs a hybrid powertrain to enable: single turbofan operation on a large transport category aircraft; increased aerodynamic and propulsive efficiency through placement of electric engines; optimized turbofan sizing and efficiency through control and electric boosting, reduced control surface sizing through thrust augmentation. A single use battery is employed as the power source in case of turbofan failure. The design study also considers the constraints of operating within the current airport, airspace and economic constraints. This paper presents the status of the trade space exploration; however the concept definition is not finished. Forward work includes optimizing the overall aircraft configuration and including certain hard to model features like boundary layer ingestion or natural laminar flow across all appliable subsystems. Additional work forward work is a more extensive analysis of the configuration using alternative fuels.

Ralph H. Jansen↗

Conceptual Exploration of Aircraft Configurations for the SUSAN Electrofan

This paper presents an aircraft configuration trade space exploration for NASA’s SUbsonicSingle Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan, which is a 180 passenger regional class transport aircraftthat utilizes electrified aircraft propulsion and advanced propulsion airframe integrationtechnologies to enable reduced fuel consumption and emissions. At its core is a hydrocarbonfuel-consuming aft fuselage propulsor that produces 35% of the total thrust while generatingpower to drive wing-mounted electric propulsors, which produce the remaining 65% thrust.This power is extracted from the aft fuselage propulsor via a set of generators and is managedwith the help of a rechargeable battery, classifying the propulsion system as hybrid electric.Investigated in this work are different aft fuselage propulsor concepts, several wing propulsorconfigurations, and different types of stability and control strategies that can be accommodatedby this hybrid electric system architecture, with an emphasis on aircraft performance. Resultsobtained using a low-order multidisciplinary design and analysis framework demonstrate thateven with a subset of the advanced technologies that are being considered for the SUSANElectrofan, significant improvements to fuel efficiency can be achieved.

CAS↗

Brief Overview of Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Transport Aircraft Concept and Trade Space Exploration

The SUSAN concept uses a 20-megawatt Electrified Aircraft Propulsion system to enable advance Propulsion Airframe Integration in transport category aircraft. Alternative fuels will be used to reduce the amount of emissions per energy used. By combining these features there is the potential to reduce aircraft emissions by 50 percent per passenger/mile while retaining the size, speed, and range of large regional jets. The SUSAN is has a 750-mile economic mission, a 2500-mile design range and a maximum capacity of 180 passengers. The SUSAN configuration utilizes a single aft mounted engine and distributed electric wing-mounted thrusters on a tube and wing arrangement with a T-tail empennage. The SUSAN Electrofan employs a hybrid powertrain to enable: single turbofan operation on a large transport category aircraft; increased aerodynamic and propulsive efficiency through placement of electric engines; optimized turbofan sizing and efficiency through control and electric boosting, reduced control surface sizing through thrust augmentation. A single use battery is employed as the power source in case of turbofan failure. The design study also considers the constraints of operating within the current airport, airspace, and economic constraints. Forward work includes optimizing the overall aircraft configuration and including certain hard to model features like boundary layer ingestion or natural laminar flow across all appliable subsystems. Additional work forward work is a more extensive analysis of the configuration using alternative fuels.

Ralph Jansen↗

NASA Analysis of Alternatives Study for Icing Research

In 2020, NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate commissioned a study of the icing research area to provide a broad and comprehensive assessment of priority needs for NASA and enduring needs for the aviation community. Priority needs were those that supported four key focus areas for NASA Aeronautics—Transonic Truss-Braced Wing, Electrified Aircraft Propulsion, Small-Core Turbine Engine, and High-Rate Composite Manufacturing—as well as other priority areas, such as Advanced Air Mobility, Certification by Analysis, and Commercial Supersonic Technology. Enduring needs were the additional long-term capabilities and expertise identified by the aviation community as being critical for NASA to provide. This study is called an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) because a large number of icing research needs were identified and analyzed to determine the highest priorities for NASA key focus areas and those that will endure into the future. This report offers a detailed description and results of the AoA study for icing research.

Aircraft Icing, Aircraft Icing, Rotorcraft Icing, ↗

SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan Trade Study Overview

SUSAN uses a 20MW class Electrified Aircraft Propulsion system to enable advanced Propulsion Airframe Integration (PAI) in transport category aircraft. Alternative fuels will be used to reduce the amount of emissions per energy used. By combining these features there is the potential to reduce aircraft emissions by 50% per passenger/mile while retaining the size, speed, and range of large regional jets.

Ralph Jansen↗

Conceptual Exploration of Aircraft Configurations for the SUSAN Electrofan

Summary of Work - Explored the aircraft configuration trade space for NASA’s Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Electrofan concept – a 180 passenger regional jet aircraft that features advanced electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) and propulsion-airframe integration (PAI) technologies - Evaluated concepts through a low-order multidisciplinary design and analysis framework

Timothy Chau↗

Update on Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Electrofan Trade Space Exploration

NASA is conducting an ongoing trade study analysis of the SUSAN Electrofan aircraft concept, which utilizes 20-MW-class electrified aircraft propulsion to enable propulsive, aerodynamic, and control benefits while retaining the range, speed, and size of typical narrow-body regional aircraft. The study is constrained by the ground rules of operating within the current airport and airspace infrastructure. This ongoing study seeks to find a configuration and combination of technologies that yield significant fuel burn and emissions benefits. Another key goal is to reduce cost per passenger mile. Currently, the study is focused on a configuration that utilizes jet A or sustainable aviation fuels, however, we plan to consider other fuel alternatives in the future. This presentation describes the progress in defining the architecture of the aircraft, engine, power system, control system, and initial understandings of the sensitivity of the potential configurations to technology assumptions based on key performance parameters. Additionally, progress towards definition and refinement of driving operational, economic, infrastructure, certification, and technical requirements is discussed.

Ralph H. Jansen↗

SUSAN Single Aisle Market Analysis

SUSAN uses a 20MW class Electrified Aircraft Propulsion system to enable advanced Propulsion Airframe Integration (PAI) in transport category aircraft. Alternative fuels will be used to reduce the amount of emissions per energy used. By combining these features there is the potential to reduce aircraft emissions by 50% per passenger/mile while retaining the size, speed, and range of large regional jets. Problem: Aircraft emissions need to be reduced by at least a factor of two, with a goal of zero emissions. Constraint: Must use existing airport infrastructure, be flight certifiable, and be more cost effective Solution To Be Developed: Hybrid Electric Large Aircraft Specific Concept To Be Developed: SUSAN Electrofan

Jacob Wishart↗

Structural Requirements for Design and Analysis of 25% Scale Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Research Aircraft

The purpose of this paper is to define a set of structural requirements which can be used for conceptual design studies of the Subsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) aircraft and the early design phases of a quarter scale flight research aircraft. SUSAN presents an architecture for a subsonic regional jet transport aircraft coupling a single turbofan engine to an electrified aircraft propulsion system (EAP). Presented within this paper are a consolidated set of requirements drawn from NASA, FAA (FAR), and non-government structural standards with a focus on loads. An example application of the breakout load tables and the approach for applying existing standards to those configurations is presented for the SUSAN 25% flight research vehicle. Positioning of the turbofan, electric engines, battery and the requirement for the 25% vehicle to be shippable in a cargo box are atypical structural design requirements. Particular focus is given to the primary aircraft structural elements such as the engine/tail mount, fuselage structure, and wing structure.

structures↗

Structural Requirements for Design and Analysis of 25% Scale Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Research Aircraft

The purpose of this paper is to define a set of structural requirements which can be used for conceptual design studies of the Subsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) aircraft and the early design phases of a quarter scale flight research aircraft. SUSAN presents an architecture for a subsonic regional jet transport aircraft coupling a single turbofan engine to an electrified aircraft propulsion system (EAP). Presented within this paper are a consolidated set of requirements drawn from NASA, FAA (FAR), and non-government structural standards with a focus on loads. An example application of the breakout load tables and the approach for applying existing standards to those configurations is presented for the SUSAN 25% flight research vehicle. Positioning of the turbofan, electric engines, battery and the requirement for the 25% vehicle to be shippable in a cargo box are atypical structural design requirements. Particular focus is given to the primary aircraft structural elements such as the engine/tail mount, fuselage structure, and wing structure.

Structures↗

Mission Profiles for the SUSAN Electrofan Concept

The SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan is a novel aircraft concept which utilizes a single aft-mounted engine, electrified aircraft propulsion, an emergency backup battery, as well as state-of-the-art aerodynamic design and thermal management systems to reduce the overall environmental impact of the aircraft. Mission profiles, which define the aircraft state and flight characteristics throughout various phases of flight, are an important component of aircraft conceptual design. These defined characteristics can serve as sizing cases or design constraints. By defining the mission profiles to be within airworthiness certification standards and regulations, aircraft designers can ensure the conceptual design is predicted to be within compliance of these regulations throughout the design process. This paper will present mission profiles for the SUSAN Electrofan aircraft, including the basis for defining the characteristics required during each phase of flight.

Conceptual Design↗

Mission Profiles for the SUSAN Electrofan Concept

The Subsonic Single Aft engine (SUSAN) Electrofan is a novel aircraft concept which utilizes a single aft-mounted engine, electrified aircraft propulsion, an emergency backup battery, as well as state-of-the-art aerodynamic design and thermal management systems to reduce the overall environmental impact of the aircraft. Mission profiles, which define the aircraft state and flight characteristics throughout various phases of flight, are an important component of aircraft conceptual design. These defined characteristics can serve as sizing cases or design constraints. By defining the mission profiles to be within airworthiness certification standards and regulations, aircraft designers can ensure the conceptual design is predicted to be within compliance of these regulations throughout the design process. This paper will present mission profiles for the SUSAN Electrofan aircraft, including the basis for defining the characteristics required during each phase of flight.

Conceptual Design↗

Thermal Requirements for Design and Analysis of Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Research Aircraft

The purpose of this paper is to define a set of thermal requirements which can be used for conceptual design studies of the Subsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) aircraft and the early design phases of a 25% scale flight research aircraft. SUSAN presents an architecture for a subsonic regional jet transport aircraft coupling a single turbofan engine to an electrified aircraft propulsion system (EAP). NASA, military, FAA, and commercial standards and guidance on the design and analysis of thermal management systems for aircraft are reviewed and summarized. The approach toward using these sources to develop the SUSAN thermal requirements is described. These requirements address the definition of the thermal environment, the design requirements for certain components that interface with the thermal management system, and thermal analysis margins.

Subsonic Single Aft Engine↗

Experimental Demonstration and Characterization of a Ceramic Sintered Wick Heat Pipe Evaporator

As electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) matures and power electronics, electric machines, and batteries achieve higher power density, the thermal management of these devices becomes ever more critical. In this paper, a heat pipe made from a dielectric ceramic material is proposed, which enables its use in the thermal management of a high frequency filter inductor for an EAP power electronics application. The manufacturing process for the sintered powder wick was developed and its performance characterized. The heat pipe is further experimentally demonstrated via an open evaporator test and shown to behave analogous to a constant conductance heat pipe.

Thermal management↗

Nasa Scaled Power Electrified Drivetrain

A new transportation system is upon us, and it aims to satisfy the increasing need for air transportation. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) has the potential to connect cities and increase air transportation capabilities and services. NASA recognizes that there is a need for standards and technology development to ensure the safety and reliability of future AAM aircraft. The NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Project is using testbed data to satisfy these needs. One of these testbeds is the Scaled Power ElEctrified Drivetrain (SPEED). SPEED is a 400 VDC, 6 kW continuous, electrified aircraft propulsion system which is used to calibrate equipment, develop procedures, and perform tests at a reduced power level. This paper describes the testbed and the work it has supported at NASA.

Patrick A Hanlon↗

NASA Scaled Power ElEctrified Drivetrain

A new transportation system is upon us, and it aims to satisfy the increasing need for air transportation. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) has the potential to connect cities and increase air transportation capabilities and services. NASA recognizes that there is a need for standards and technology development to ensure the safety and reliability of future AAM aircraft. The NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Project is using testbed data to satisfy these needs. One of these testbeds is the Scaled Power ElEctrified Drivetrain (SPEED). SPEED is a 400 VDC, 6 kW continuous, electrified aircraft propulsion system which is used to calibrate equipment, develop procedures, and perform tests at a reduced power level. This paper describes the testbed and the work it has supported at NASA.

Patrick Hanlon↗

Adaptive Control and Scaling Approach for the Emulation of Dynamic Sub-scale Torque Loads

Previous research by the authors proposed a control and scaling approach for emulating dynamic sub-scale torque loads. This approach produced an emulation controller that successfully regulated the dynamic behavior of a sub-scale electro-mechanical system intended to be a dynamical representation of the sub-scale turboelectric powertrain of a single-aisle commercial aircraft. The sub-scale system provides an environment without turbomachinery or rotors for the initial testing of electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) control algorithms as they would be applied to a full-scale EAP system. The sub-scale turbomachinery/rotor torque loads were produced by electric machines (EMs) driven by the control and scaling approach, a full-scale turboelectric powertrain model, and an advanced EAP control algorithm. Although successfully tested, this approach produces an emulation controller that does not guarantee asymptotic stability. Modifying the original control law and integrating adaptive control techniques into the emulation controller allows the designer to guarantee asymptotic stability. This paper introduces the idea behind the emulation controller modifications, derives the controller, proves asymptotic stability, describes the implementation of the controller on a sub-scale electro-mechanical system intended to represent a parallel hybrid-electric turbofan engine, and describes the testing of a full-scale advanced EAP control algorithm. The turbofan engine and emulation controller performance are compared to results obtained using the previous, non-adaptive control and scaling approach.

adaptive↗