Electrically Powered Propulsion: Comparison and Contrast to Gas Turbines

Abstract

In view of the strategic goals for aeronautical research recently established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the European Commission, radically new technology concepts for the provision of motive power to future transport category aircraft need to be considered. As a possible means of ultra-low or zero in-flight emission and a potential long-term alternative to gas turbines, the prospect of utilizing electrically driven motors for motive power are starting to be seriously considered for aerospace vehicle design and integration. In this paper, a forward-looking pre-concept review is given in order to identify the potential applicability of electrically based propulsion in the future. Electric power plant technology is compared and contrasted to advanced gas turbine technology including a variety of technical aspects, such as power plant sizing and performance characteristics as well as aircraft integration and operation. Therefore, a unified theoretical treatment including system boundary definition, efficiency book-keeping and appropriate figures of merit at propulsion system as well as vehicular performance level is introduced and applied. 1.