Structural Batteries in Aviation: A Preliminary Sizing Methodology
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 4
Abstract
A significant research effort in aviation is currently focused on the integration of electric or hybrid-electric power-trains onboard aircraft in an effort to improve efficiency and environmental friendliness. New designs incorporating these novel propulsion systems face the issue of penalizing battery characteristics, especially in terms of limited energy and power density performance, in turn imposing a toll on the inert weight of the machine. A possible solution to this issue is that of structural batteries. These are similar in structure to carbon fiber composites, where the matrix features dielectric characteristics, making the structure capable of storing electric energy while retaining the capability to withstand mechanical loads. The adoption of this technology, currently under advanced development, shall enable significant weight savings; yet it also raises relevant issues concerning aircraft sizing procedures that need to be conceived taking into account the specific characteristics of such multifunctional materials. This paper faces the new problem of aircraft initial design in presence of structural batteries. First, it presents a method for aircraft preliminary weight sizing, where the double effect of structural batteries on both structural mass and energy storage mass is considered. Subsequently, a procedure to size an airframe structure with the adoption of structural batteries in key components is shown, based on a weight-optimal approach. The complete sizing procedure is illustrated through an award-winning test case in the General Aviation category.
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Data Availability Statement
All data produced and used in the presented case study are available from the corresponding author by request (not included herein for obvious reasons of length limitations).
Acknowledgments
The contribution of A. Bernasconi, L. Capoferri, A. Favier, C. Velarde Lopez de Ayala, and F. Gualdoni of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano in the obtainment of the results is gratefully acknowledged. The insight provided by E. D. Wetzel, Ph.D., of the US Army Research Laboratory on the technology of structural batteries has been instrumental in the design of the proposed procedure and in analyzing results in the considered test case.
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Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 4 • July 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 2, 2019
Accepted: Jan 3, 2020
Published online: Apr 18, 2020
Published in print: Jul 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Sep 18, 2020
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