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Advances in Aircraft and Spacecraft Science Volume 8, Number 1, January 2021 , pages 17-30 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/aas.2021.8.1.017 |
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An investigation into energy harvesting and storage to power a more electric regional aircraft |
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Ahmed Saleh, Constantina Lekakou and John Doherty
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| Abstract | ||
| This is an investigation for a more electric regional aircraft, considering the ATR 72 aircraft as an example and the electrification of its four double slotted flaps, which were estimated to require an energy of 540 Wh for takeoff and 1780 Wh for landing, with a maximum power requirement of 35.6 kW during landing. An analysis and evaluation of three energy harvesting systems has been carried out, which led to the recommendation of a combination of a piezoelectric and a thermoelectric harvesting system providing 65% and 17%, respectively, of the required energy for the actuators of the four flaps. The remaining energy may be provided by a solar energy harvesting photovoltaic system, which was calculated to have a maximum capacity of 12.8 kWh at maximum solar irradiance. It was estimated that a supercapacitor of 232 kg could provide the energy storage and power required for the four flaps, which proved to be 59% of the required weight of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery while the supercapacitor also constitutes a safer option. | ||
| Key Words | ||
| ATR 72 aircraft; flaps actuator power system; solar energy; photovoltaics; thermoelectric energy; piezoelectric energy; supercapacitor; electrochemical double layer capacitor; EDLC; batteries | ||
| Address | ||
| Ahmed Saleh and Constantina Lekakou: Centre for Engineering Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, U.K John Doherty: Centre for Aerodynamics and Environmental Flow, Department of Mechanical Engineering Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, U.K. | ||
