Accession Number:

ADA517586

Title:

Analysis of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System Designs for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

Personal Author(s):

• Hiserote, Ryan M.

Report Date:

2010-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

148.0

Abstract:

Currently fielded electric-powered small unmanned aircraft systems UAS lack the endurance desired by warfighters, while their internal combustion engine driven counterparts generate mission compromising acoustic and thermal signatures. Parallel hybrid-electric propulsion systems would meet the militarys needs by combining the advantages of hydrocarbon and electric power systems. Three distinct parallel hybrid-electric system designs, each with three unique battery discharging profiles, were analyzed and compared using a constrained static optimization formulation based upon traditional aircraft design equations. Each system combined an internal combustion engine sized for cruise speed with an electric motor sized for endurance speed. The nine variations were compared using a typical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ISR mission profile. The analysis determined the most suitable design for the baseline ISR mission and provided recommended missions for the remaining designs.

Descriptors:

• *HYBRID SYSTEMS
• *ELECTRIC POWER
• *HYBRID PROPULSION
• THESES
• CODING
• HYDROCARBONS
• UNMANNED
• ACOUSTIC SIGNATURES
• MILITARY PLANNING
• SURVEILLANCE
• RECONNAISSANCE
• FOLDING
• INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
• EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
• MISSION PROFILES
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• OPTIMIZATION

Subject Categories:

• Aircraft
• Electric and Ion Propulsion

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE