Electric aircraft taxiing
The EU funds a huge range of projects aiming to find economies in all aspects of aviation. One area for potential savings concerns the use of main engine power for aircraft taxiing. The EU-funded SOG PEERS (SOG power electronics with energy recycling system) project tested and demonstrated the feasibility of an alternative system. The development consisted of electric motors for aircraft wheels, which convert motion into storable electrical power. The Electronic Green Taxiing System includes reverse and forward motion, electronic braking and cruise control. Stored energy also powers the emergency Landing Gear Extension Retraction System. The innovation targets short/medium-haul aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Early phases involved design, followed by development and manufacture of various subsystems. The project successfully developed control rules for the motor and for the electronic power device. An important outcome was a lithium-ion supercapacitor module for storing electrical power. Charge and discharge cycles plus overall performance were as expected. Other outcomes include a technological brick for the power factor convertor and use of a real-time simulator to validate all system subassemblies. Subsequently, the team tested and validated the system. Results demonstrated the system's capacity to drive the wheel motors in both directions, and for the control unit to properly interface with the motors. The group successfully tested protection systems on both the demonstrator and simulator, plus endurance and thermal properties of the motor. The running-on dynamometer was simulated. Researchers tested the complete system in June 2015. Results of the SOG PEERS project mean a fuel saving of several percent per flight. The work can also help Europe meets its aviation efficiency targets.
Keywords
Aircraft taxiing, fuel savings, aviation, SOG PEERS, energy recycling, electrical power
