Journal of Propulsion and Power · 2019 · 196 citations · 19 references
EngineeringAerospace EngineeringElectrical EngineeringEnergy EconomicsEnergy PolicyPropulsionAircraft Electrical SystemsElectric MotorsElectric PowertrainsElectric PropulsionEnergy StoragePropulsion IntegrationAircraft Electric Propulsion SystemsAircraft Power ConversionAircraft Power GenerationAviation EconomicsEmissions ReductionEmissions Reduction In AviationHeat RejectionPropulsion Emissions Reduction
Aviation’s major emission‑reduction goal focuses on large airliners, which account for ~98 % of global traffic and require tens of megawatts of power per flight. The study examines the challenges of electrifying these airliners and explores potential benefits such as reduced noise and operating costs. The authors evaluate battery, hybrid, and turboelectric propulsion options, assessing technical constraints (weight, efficiency, heat rejection) and the economic and policy implications of a sector‑wide transition. The authors conclude that electric propulsion is unlikely to achieve substantial emission reductions for aviation during the first half of the 21st century.
The reduction of aviation's emissions is a major objective of the aviation industry. About 98% of the world's aviation is produced by aircraft with gross takeoff mass above 25 metric tonnes, referred to herein as airliners. Propulsion of such aircraft can require power and energy levels of tens of megawatts and hundreds of thousands of kilowatt hours per flight. The challenges to electrically powering these airliners are examined in the context of reduction. Additional possible benefits such as noise and cost reduction are explored. All electric (battery), hybrid, and turboelectric approaches are considered. Technical issues including weight, efficiency, and heat rejection are examined. In addition, economic and policy implications of an industry conversion to electric propulsion are discussed. The conclusion of this study is that electric propulsion is not a promising path to significant reduction of aviation's in the first half of the 21st century.
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