An electric propulsion system 102 has a nacelle 104 with an aerodynamic annular housing defining an internal annular volume 106 and an inner duct 108. A single fan stage 110 is located in the inner duct, generating thrust with a number of aerodynamic blades 112. A powertrain is located within the internal annular volume and has a number of power sources 136 powering a number of electric motors 124, 126 driving the fan. The electrical power source may be an energy storage system containing at least one battery of toroidal form to fit in the nacelle; it may also be a fuel cell. A thermal management system may also be located in the interior volume of the nacelle, utilising a heat absorbing medium such as a dielectric liquid carried in a pipe network common to heat generating elements of the powertrain and redistribute heat to a heat exchanger 144 to heat air in an aft part of the inner duct, or de-icing heaters 150 in a leading edge of the nacelle. The electric motors may include a pair of independently operated rim driven electric motors, and/or a radial flux electric motor, or just a single electric motor driving the fan.
Electric propulsion systems
2023-10-18
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
SAE Technical Papers | 1960
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1959
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