Electric Aircraft Range Extension
Introduction
This paper contains the theoretical discussion about the forgotten principal of implementing the electrical motors and on-board generators, to drive the small propeller aircraft. The goal of this information is to remember the reader on pioneer aircraft which has been driven using electricity. The official reason why this type of aircraft are stopped to be implemented, was that the range of operating along with performance was not high enough, and the engine was not powerful enough compared to the combustion engine models. The goal of this reinvention is to improve the existing ideas, and to re-implement them in accordance to the current technology level. The target group of optimization are at first the light aircraft. Although there is a huge interest for compact flying vehicles which could not need the runway to fly up and down, and could be also used as cars, this application is not primary content of this paper.
Abstract
The need for light aircraft which is going to have wide flying range, is evident and immense world wide. There are many people all over the world, who still use the light aircraft as the only possibility to cross the wide distances to the next supplying resort, or working place. Furthermore, the limitation caused by the matter of fact that wide implemented combustion engines needs the fuel to fly, make this kind of aircraft not very convenient for use in such a cases. The way to cross over this limitation could be found in implementing the electric propeller engine, as flash back to the pioneering of aviation. This time, we could implement the newest technology in order to get much better results, relatively easy to implement them world wide, using an existing light electric aircraft as a base for optimization.
The optimization consists of implementing the power pack battery supplied propeller engine, along with on-board electric power generator. The matter of fact, that the light aircraft could fly also without any motor, using a wind turbulence in a seal mode of flying, the same wind streams could be used to drive on-board electrical power generators to charge the power pack battery supply in order to extend the flying time. Although we could use many different types of generators, the suggestion is to use some flat and light compressed air turbine, using strong neodymium magnets, which are going to induce enough electrical power to charge the batteries. The flat turbines could be installed in both wings, as well as at the bottom of an aircraft, to spear the place. This kind of aircraft would needs initially to speed up, in order that on-board turbines could start generating electricity, to recharge the on board battery. One turbine could easy drive at least one or more kilowatts DC power generator.
Description
The turbine-generators are going to be driven using a suction system to add an additional energy into the system, in order to enlarge a kinetic energy of an air vortex. An air suction system has a form of round pipe which turns around the turbine, reducing the diameter along, building a snail shape vortex. After one turn around the disk stack turbine, an air inlet is going to be introduced from the front side of the wing, at the edge of the turbine disks. In addition, a suction system similar to jet turbine, is going to be implemented at an air outlet in order to additionally increase an air inflow, producing an under-pressure at outlet. An air outlet is placed on the back side of the wing and blow an air at the underside of the wing. On this way an additional thrust is going to be implemented to an aircraft.
It would be possible to reuse a standard blade fans of some vehicles, trucks or the like, which has already the snail shaped air inlet and maybe an suction system at an air outlet. If it doesn't mach, it could be easy manufactured. It would be even though possible to reuse some old vacuum cleaner of cyclone type, and to enclose them within the tube in order to significantly intensify an under-pressure at an air outlet. If the vacuum cleaner suction system doesn't mach the space within the wings, it would be possible to install it under the wings, particularly integrating it into the wing to keep the aerodynamics.
Introduction
This paper contains the theoretical discussion about the forgotten principal of implementing the electrical motors and on-board generators, to drive the small propeller aircraft. The goal of this information is to remember the reader on pioneer aircraft which has been driven using electricity. The official reason why this type of aircraft are stopped to be implemented, was that the range of operating along with performance was not high enough, and the engine was not powerful enough compared to the combustion engine models. The goal of this reinvention is to improve the existing ideas, and to re-implement them in accordance to the current technology level. The target group of optimization are at first the light aircraft. Although there is a huge interest for compact flying vehicles which could not need the runway to fly up and down, and could be also used as cars, this application is not primary content of this paper.
Abstract
The need for light aircraft which is going to have wide flying range, is evident and immense world wide. There are many people all over the world, who still use the light aircraft as the only possibility to cross the wide distances to the next supplying resort, or working place. Furthermore, the limitation caused by the matter of fact that wide implemented combustion engines needs the fuel to fly, make this kind of aircraft not very convenient for use in such a cases. The way to cross over this limitation could be found in implementing the electric propeller engine, as flash back to the pioneering of aviation. This time, we could implement the newest technology in order to get much better results, relatively easy to implement them world wide, using an existing light electric aircraft as a base for optimization.
The optimization consists of implementing the power pack battery supplied propeller engine, along with on-board electric power generator. The matter of fact, that the light aircraft could fly also without any motor, using a wind turbulence in a seal mode of flying, the same wind streams could be used to drive on-board electrical power generators to charge the power pack battery supply in order to extend the flying time. Although we could use many different types of generators, the suggestion is to use some flat and light compressed air turbine, using strong neodymium magnets, which are going to induce enough electrical power to charge the batteries. The flat turbines could be installed in both wings, as well as at the bottom of an aircraft, to spear the place. This kind of aircraft would needs initially to speed up, in order that on-board turbines could start generating electricity, to recharge the on board battery. One turbine could easy drive at least one or more kilowatts DC power generator.
Description
The turbine-generators are going to be driven using a suction system to add an additional energy into the system, in order to enlarge a kinetic energy of an air vortex. An air suction system has a form of round pipe which turns around the turbine, reducing the diameter along, building a snail shape vortex. After one turn around the disk stack turbine, an air inlet is going to be introduced from the front side of the wing, at the edge of the turbine disks. In addition, a suction system similar to jet turbine, is going to be implemented at an air outlet in order to additionally increase an air inflow, producing an under-pressure at outlet. An air outlet is placed on the back side of the wing and blow an air at the underside of the wing. On this way an additional thrust is going to be implemented to an aircraft.
It would be possible to reuse a standard blade fans of some vehicles, trucks or the like, which has already the snail shaped air inlet and maybe an suction system at an air outlet. If it doesn't mach, it could be easy manufactured. It would be even though possible to reuse some old vacuum cleaner of cyclone type, and to enclose them within the tube in order to significantly intensify an under-pressure at an air outlet. If the vacuum cleaner suction system doesn't mach the space within the wings, it would be possible to install it under the wings, particularly integrating it into the wing to keep the aerodynamics.
As an DC power generator, it would be possible to use the DC motor for e-bike which are compact and have a power of 1 kW or even more. To enlarge a torque, we could use a speed down wheel to drive the power generator. Depends on the turbine, it would be possible to install even more then one power generator along the transmissions wheel.
The best kind of turbine is an flat disk stack bladeless turbine, invented by Nikola Tesla, US1061206 which would allow for very high speed, up to 15,000 rpm, thus a lot of mechanical power, which could be extracted out of kinetic energy of the rotor. To prevent the damages due to excessive speed or vibrations, the maximal speed could be limited to a secure limit. An turbulence caused vibrations, could be significantly reduced using appropriate gear coupled to the shaft. The turbine is very simple, and extremely efficient, thus could be a good choice.
If an air inlets of the suction system are located behind the propeller, this would additionally improve the power of the system. Using such a turbine, it would be possible to drive even more powerful generators. We should bear in mind the necessity of optimizing the weight of any additional devices. The implemented power generator could be of similar kind as electric motor for aircraft, since it is already optimized on both weight and efficiency.
Conclusion
Introducing on board power generators is not a new idea. There are some prototypes of aircraft developed at early 80's of the last century, which has implemented solar power plant of 2 kW to supply the electric propeller engine. Nowadays, a wide range of battery supplied light aircraft are in use world wide. The main advantage of electric aircraft is the low price of flying our. Of this reason it is the favor solution to the pilot education centers.
Compared to the fuel driven aircraft, the electric aircraft have less power, which strongly affects the performance. In turn, the flight range of electric aircraft with on board power generators, could be significantly enlarged. The matter of fact that the weight and volume of on board power plant, is far less then the battery pack or gasoline tank, makes it attractive to implement. The build in batteries could be reduced in capacity this in weight, if on board generator is going to be implemented.