Future of Electrical Aircraft Energy Power Systems: An Architecture Review

Abstract

This article presents an in-depth analysis of all electric-aircraft (AEA) architectures. This work aims to provide a global vision of the current AEA state of the art, to estimate the main technological gaps and drivers, and to identify the most promising architecture configuration for future electrical aircraft in the context of a twin-propeller 20-MW aircraft. The comparison between architectures is done based on three different figures of merit: reliability, efficiency, and specific power density. The methodology presented and the trade studies are applied to a narrowbody aircraft of 20 MW, equivalent to an Airbus A320, and following current efforts of government agencies to achieve cleaner air mobility within the next two decades.