The environmental impact of hydrocarbon-burning aircraft is one of the main motivations for the move to electric propulsion in aerospace. Also, cars, buses, and trucks are incorporating electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems, reducing the pressure on hydrocarbons and lowering the costs of electrical components. The economies of scale necessitated by the automotive industry will help contain costs in the aviation sector as well. The use of electric propulsion in airplanes is not a new phenomenon. However, it is only recently that it has taken off in a concrete manner with a viable commercial future. The Electric Flight Technology: Unfolding of a New Future reviews the history of this field, discusses the key underlying technologies, and describes how the future for these technologies will likely unfold, distinguishing between all-electric (AE) and hybrid-electric (HE) architectures. Written by Dr. Ravi Rajamani, it covers the essential information needed to understand this new technology wave taking hold in the aerospace industry. The Electric Flight Technology: Unfolding of a New Future covers fundamental topics such as: • The history of electric propulsion, including its evolution from using traditional electricity, to solar power to batteries as sources to sustain propulsion and flight. • The various architectures being considered for electric aircraft, specifically small general aviation (GA) aircraft and larger business jets; single-aisle commercial aircraft; and larger twin-aisle commercial aircraft. • The various systems and subsystems of an electric aircraft, along with how various subsystems in the vehicle can be integrated in a more optimal manner. In the future, the existing tube-and-wing configuration will not be the only available architecture; instead we will be more likely to find an architecture where the propulsion system is embedded within the airframe. • The future trends in this arena and what we can expect to see in the next decade or so.

What are the benefits of electrified propulsion for large aircraft? What technology advancements are required to realize these benefits? How can the aerospace industry transition from today's technologies to state-of-the-art electrified systems? Learn the answers with this multidisciplinary text, combining expertise from leading researchers in electrified aircraft propulsion. The book includes broad coverage of electrification technologies – spanning power systems and power electronics, materials science, superconductivity and cryogenics, thermal management, battery chemistry, system design, and system optimization – and a clear-cut road map identifying remaining gaps between the current state-of-the-art and future performance technologies. Providing expert guidance on areas for future research and investment and an ideal introduction to cutting-edge advances and outstanding challenges in large electric aircraft design, this is a perfect resource for graduate students, researchers, electrical and aeronautical engineers, policymakers, and management professionals interested in next-generation commercial flight technologies.

The primary human activities that release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere are the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) to generate electricity, the provision of energy for transportation, and as a consequence of some industrial processes. Although aviation CO2 emissions only make up approximately 2.0 to 2.5 percent of total global annual CO2 emissions, research to reduce CO2 emissions is urgent because (1) such reductions may be legislated even as commercial air travel grows, (2) because it takes new technology a long time to propagate into and through the aviation fleet, and (3) because of the ongoing impact of global CO2 emissions. Commercial Aircraft Propulsion and Energy Systems Research develops a national research agenda for reducing CO2 emissions from commercial aviation. This report focuses on propulsion and energy technologies for reducing carbon emissions from large, commercial aircraftâ€" single-aisle and twin-aisle aircraft that carry 100 or more passengersâ€"because such aircraft account for more than 90 percent of global emissions from commercial aircraft. Moreover, while smaller aircraft also emit CO2, they make only a minor contribution to global emissions, and many technologies that reduce CO2 emissions for large aircraft also apply to smaller aircraft. As commercial aviation continues to grow in terms of revenue-passenger miles and cargo ton miles, CO2 emissions are expected to increase. To reduce the contribution of aviation to climate change, it is essential to improve the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and initiate research into new approaches.

Airplanes have come a long way since the first flight in 1903. They fly farther and faster than ever before. They also dump tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day, burning up fossil fuels and polluting the planet. Airlines and other companies are teaming up to find a solution. Innovative new designs for electric airplanes could change the way people travel within the next few years. Someday you might hop on an airplane for a short trip instead of driving. Or, you might hover over city streets in an air taxi. The future of flight is exciting and looks electric.

Electric Aircraft Dynamics: A Systems Engineering Approach surveys engineering sciences that underpin the dynamics, control, monitoring, and design of electric propulsion systems for aircraft. It is structured to appeal to readers with a science and engineering background and is modular in format. The closely linked chapters present descriptive material and relevant mathematical modeling techniques. Taken as a whole, this ground-breaking text equips professional and student readers with a solid foundation for advanced work in this emerging field. Key Features: Provides the first systems-based overview of this emerging aerospace technology Surveys low-weight battery technologies and their use in electric aircraft propulsion Explores the design and use of plasma actuation for boundary layer and flow control Considers the integrated design of electric motor-driven propellers Includes PowerPoint slides for instructors using the text for classes Dr. Ranjan Vepa earned his PhD in applied mechanics from Stanford University, California. He currently serves as a lecturer in the School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, where he has also been the programme director of the Avionics Programme since 2001. Dr. Vepa is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, London; the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), New York; a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; a member of the Royal Institute of Navigation, London; and a chartered engineer.

Fundamentals of Electric Aircraft was developed to explain what the electric aircraft stands for by offering an objective view of what can be expected from the giant strides in innovative architectures and technologies enabling aircraft electrification. Through tangible case studies, a deep insight is provided into this paradigm shift cutting across various aircraft segments – from General Aviation to Large Aircraft. Addressing design constraints and timelines foreseen to reach acceptable performance and maturity levels, Fundamentals of Electric Aircraft puts forward a general view of the progress made to date and what to expect in the years to come. Drawing from the expertise of four industry veterans, Pascal Thalin (editor), Ravi Rajamani, Jean-Charles Mare and Sven Taubert (contributors), it addresses futuristic approaches but does not depart too far from the operational down-to-earth realities of everyday business. Fundamentals of Electric Aircraft also offers analyses on how performance enhancements and fuel burn savings may bring more value for money as long as new electric technologies deliver on their promises.

Aviation propulsion development continues to rely upon fossil fuels for the vast majority of commercial and military applications. Until these fuels are depleted or abandoned, burning them will continue to jeopardize air quality and provoke increased regulation. With those challenges in mind, research and development of more efficient and electric propulsion systems will expand. Fuel-cell technology is but one example that addresses such emission and resource challenges, and others, including negligible acoustic emissions and the potential to leverage current infrastructure models. For now, these technologies are consigned to smaller aircraft applications, but are expected to mature toward use in larger aircraft. Additionally, measures such as electric/conventional hybrid configurations will ultimately increase efficiencies and knowledge of electric systems while minimizing industrial costs. Requirements for greater flight time, stealth characteristics, and thrust-to-power ratios adds urgency to the development of efficient propulsion methods for applications such as UAVs, which looks to technologies such as asymmetrical capacitors to enhance electric propulsion efficiency. This book will take the reader through various technologies that will enable a more-electric aircraft future, as well as design methods and certification requirements of more-electric engines.