Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to present the main results achieved in the frame of the TIVANO national-funded project which may anticipate, in a stepped approach, the evolution and the design of the enabling technologies needed for a hybrid/electric medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform persistent intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) military operations.Design/methodology/approachDifferent architectures of hybrid-propulsion system are analyzed pointing out their operating modes to select the more suitable architecture for the reference aircraft. The selected architecture is further analyzed together with its electric power plant branch focusing on electric system architecture and the selected electric machine. A final comparison between the hybrid and standard propulsion is given at aircraft level.FindingsThe use of hybrid propulsion may lead to a reduction of the total aircraft mass and an increase in safety level. However, this result comes together with a reduced performance in climb phase.Practical implicationsThis study can be used as a reference for similar studies and it provides a detailed description of propulsion operating modes, power management, electric system and machine architecture.Originality/valueThis study presents a novel application of hybrid propulsion focusing on a three tons class MALE UAV for ISR missions. It provides new operating modes of the propulsion system and a detailed electric architecture of its powertrain branch and machine. Some considerations on noise emissions and infra-red traceability of this propulsion, at aircraft level.
Highlights
In the ground of transportation sector, the hybrid-electric platforms are growing in number and application since the past decade because of many advantages, such as less fuel consumption and reduced environmental pollution to comply with more and more severe restrictions in terms of pollutant emission limits
This paper explores from the electrical power generation standpoint the enabling technologies for a hybrid medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for high endurance, medium altitudes intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) mission profiles enabling operations from benign/permissive scenarios to contested and denied scenarios
0.7 h without any increase in mass, the electric system of this application of parallel hybrid propulsion is already compatible to any upgrade in ISR mission sensors or other powerconsuming equipment
Summary
= Intelligence surveillance reconnaissance; LIDAR = Light imaging detection and ranging; MALE = Medium altitude long endurance; The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/1748-8842.htm. = Specific fuel consumption; and SR SAMs = Short-range surface-to-air-missiles. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode. This work has been developed in the frame of TIVANO Project (Tecnologie Innovative per Velivoli di Aviazione Generale di Nuova Generazione) supported by the Italian Aerospace Cluster funded by MIUR
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