Method for prolonging endurance of electric aircraft

Abstract

The invention relates to the fields of aerodynamics, aircraft structures and avionics, discloses a long-endurance electric energy aircraft endurance prolonging method, and solves the problems of low cargo capacity, short voyage and the like of electric energy aircrafts in the prior art. By adopting the technical scheme of multi-airport linkage and autonomous rendezvous and docking of multiple airplanes, the beneficial effect of improving the voyage and cargo capacity of the electric energy airplanes is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of aerodynamics and flight control, and particularly to a method for extending the endurance of electric aircraft. Background Art

[0002] Air transportation is expensive, mainly due to high fuel prices and the costs of aircraft and supporting facilities. Long-distance cargo transportation generally uses maritime shipping or rail transportation. These two transportation methods have long transportation times, and with the time required for customs clearance, it takes about a month. The long time limits economic and trade exchanges between countries. Solving the time and cost problems will make economic and trade exchanges between countries more frequent, and in the long run, will protect China's economic security and improve China's economic level. In addition, humans are facing a fuel crisis. On the one hand, the demand for world air transportation is growing slowly, while the total amount of fuel is continuously decreasing. Developing a sustainable aviation industry is the trend of the future.

[0003] Currently, there are already technologies for in-air rendezvous and in-air refueling of fuel aircraft, as well as technologies for the manufacture and control of aircraft powered by electricity. The technologies for in-air rendezvous and in-air refueling of fuel aircraft require human participation and can only extend the endurance of fuel aircraft. The technologies for the manufacture and control of aircraft powered by electricity reduce the cost of air transportation, but have always been unable to solve the endurance problem of electric aircraft. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the problems existing in the prior art, this method integrates the advantages of in-air rendezvous and in-air refueling technologies of aircraft and the technologies for the manufacture and control of aircraft powered by electricity to extend the endurance of electric aircraft.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: The in-air docking technology of the electric aircraft of the present invention.

[0006] (1) Install a power management module on the aircraft originally powered by electricity, so that the aircraft can select one of the two batteries as the power source and cut off the other from the circuit.

[0007] (2) Modify the flight control system to use an AI pilot, so that the aircraft can fly along a certain course, maintain a stable attitude when disturbed, and have the ability to communicate with other aircraft and form an online formation.

[0008] (3) A single aircraft has a maximum range (for example, the maximum range is 300 kilometers, the main battery provides a range of 200 kilometers, and the secondary battery provides a range of 100 kilometers).

[0009] (4) The starting point and the destination have a fixed distance (for example, the distance is 1000 kilometers. General airports are set every 200 kilometers along the route. Together with the two airports at the beginning and the end, there are a total of 11 airports. The general airports use fossil energy or clean energy along the line and can charge the main and auxiliary batteries).

[0010] (5) Modify the airframe structure so that two aircraft can connect the battery compartments in the air and exchange batteries.

[0011] (6) The cargo plane takes off from the starting point, carrying goods. When it flies above the first general airport, the supply aircraft takes off (carrying the main battery). When the main battery of the cargo plane is exhausted, it connects to the auxiliary battery. The two aircraft conduct rendezvous and docking within 100 kilometers, connect the battery compartments. The cargo plane receives a fully charged main battery, ejects the exhausted main battery, and the supply aircraft returns to the first general airport with the empty battery.

[0012] (7) Repeat the operation in (6) until reaching the destination.

[0013] (8) Frequent takeoffs and landings of aircraft will cause problems and increase time. Therefore, the supply mission is completed in the air.

[0014] (8) Beneficial effects: Through this technical solution, the endurance of the electric aircraft is extended, the energy available for the aircraft increases, and traditional fossil energy or clean energy such as light energy and wind energy can be utilized. At the same time, AI flight control and full automation of ground airports greatly reduce the difficulty and cost of air transportation. The improved cargo plane and supply aircraft can carry passengers and goods, and taking an airplane will be as simple as taking a train at a station.

Claims

1. A method for extending the flight life of an electric aircraft, characterized in that : (1) Use an aircraft powered by electricity, and install a power management module on the aircraft that originally used electricity as energy, so that the aircraft can choose one of the two batteries as a power source and cut off the other battery from the circuit: (2) Modify the flight control system and use AI pilots so that the aircraft can fly at a certain heading, stabilize its attitude when disturbed, and have the ability to communicate with other aircraft and form a formation online: (3) A single aircraft has a maximum range (for example, the maximum range is 300 kilometers, the main battery provides a range of 200 kilometers, and the auxiliary battery provides a range of 100 kilometers): (4) The departure point and the destination have a fixed distance (for example, the distance is 1,000 kilometers, and a general airport is set up every 200 kilometers on the route, plus the first and last airports, a total of 11 airports. The general airport uses fossil energy or clean energy along the route to charge the main and auxiliary batteries): (5) Modify the body structure so that the two aircraft can connect to each other's battery compartments in the air and exchange batteries: (6) The cargo plane takes off from the departure point, carrying the cargo. When it flies over the first general airport, the supply aircraft takes off (carrying the main battery). The cargo plane's main battery is exhausted and the auxiliary battery is connected. The two aircraft rendezvous and dock within 100 kilometers, connect the battery compartments, the cargo plane accepts the fully charged main battery, ejects the exhausted main battery, and the supply aircraft returns to the first general airport with the empty battery: (7) Repeat steps (6) until the destination is reached and the cargo plane lands.

2. Application of the method for extending the flight range of electric aircraft in claim 1 in air transportation.