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Small But Mighty: Rolls-Royce's Hybrid-Electric Powerhouse | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The latest innovation from Rolls-Royce takes flight as they unveil their petite gas turbine, custom-built to fuel hybrid-electric planes and prepare to commence its trial phase.
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A turbogenerator system is under development for the Advanced Air Mobility market, which comprises electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) Aircraft for Urban Air Mobility and Commuter Aircraft applications up to 19 seats, with the engine being a crucial component of the system.
Powering The Future: Rolls-Royce's Turbogenerator System
Rolls-Royce has leveraged its electrical and gas turbine development expertise to create the turbogenerator system.
The addition of the system to the Rolls-Royce Electrical propulsion portfolio will provide an onboard power source, capable of delivering scalable power offerings ranging from 500kW to 1200kW. This will enable an extended range of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and eventually, through hydrogen combustion. This advancement will open up the opportunity for longer routes, surpassing what electric battery-powered aircraft can currently support.
This system incorporates advanced technology to significantly increase the efficiency of small gas turbines and can be utilised in both serial and parallel hybrid applications, making it ideal for recharging batteries and powering electrical propulsion units in aircraft.
This innovative technology is receiving partial funding from the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.