Hybrid Aircraft Propulsion With Segmented Electric-Combustion Thrust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft propulsion systems face challenges in balancing environmental friendliness, efficiency, and maintenance complexity, with hybrid-motor propellers being expensive and difficult to maintain, while electric and combustion motors have their own drawbacks.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft propulsion system utilizing a combination of electric and combustion motor propellers, controlled by a system that engages and disengages them based on operating conditions, with electric motors providing thrust during takeoff and cruising, and combustion motors engaged for additional thrust or in case of failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hybrid-motor propellers are used to balance environmental friendliness and efficiency, then operational flexibility is improved, but maintenance complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion system is divided into separate electric motor propellers and combustion motor propellers rather than using integrated hybrid-motor propellers. This segmentation allows each motor type to be maintained independently, reducing the complexity of maintaining hybrid systems while preserving the ability to switch between power sources for operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple propellers that can serve different functions - electric motor propellers for environmentally friendly operation and combustion motor propellers for additional thrust or backup. This multi-functionality approach achieves operational flexibility without requiring complex hybrid-motor designs in each propeller.
2Reliability
If multiple propellers are used to improve reliability, then system redundancy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges electric motor propellers and combustion motor propellers into a unified propulsion system with common control and mounting structures. This merging approach provides redundancy through multiple propellers while avoiding the complexity of completely separate systems, as they share common infrastructure.
3Power
If combustion motors are used for additional thrust, then power output is improved, but environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses combustion motors periodically or intermittently rather than continuously - engaging them only when additional thrust is required or as backup. This periodic use minimizes environmental impact from combustion operations while still providing the power benefits when needed, unlike continuous combustion operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances operational flexibility, reduces environmental impact, and improves reliability by optimizing thrust distribution and reducing maintenance complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of propeller assemblies distributed across a leading edge of the main wing... each propeller assembly including a hub and two or more blades extending from the hub... configured to generate lift on the craft by blowing air over the main wing
Data Source
AI summary
A craft comprises at least one hull, a main wing coupled to the hull and configured to facilitate airborne operations of the craft, a plurality of propellers that include one or more electric motor propellers and one or more combustion motor propellers arranged along each of a port side and a starboard side of the main wing and configured to generate lift on the craft by blowing air over the main wing, and a control system. The control system comprises data storage having instruction code stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of the control system, causes the control system to: after receiving a takeoff indication, increase thrust generated by the electric motor propellers to cause the craft to transition from a hull-borne mode of operation to an airborne mode of operation, and after a thrust adjustment condition occurs, increase thrust generated by the combustion motor propellers.