Distributed Hybrid Electric Propulsion Aircraft Design Based on Convex Optimized Power Allocation Management

Abstract

In order to ensure that aircraft have medium and long-range flights, enhanced aerodynamic performance, and reduced fuel consumption, this paper presents an original Distributed Hybrid Electric Propulsion Aircraft (DHEPA) design scheme and proposes a novel power allocation management method based on convex optimization. Firstly, by taking the Tecnam P2006T general-purpose aircraft as a reference, key components of DHEPA are selected and modeled. Then, a power allocation management method for DHEPA is proposed on the basis of convex optimization, which takes the minimum fuel consumption as the performance index to realize the reasonable power allocation of the battery and engine, while avoiding sliding into the local optimum of allocation. Finally, momentum theory and numerical simulation methods are used to analyze the aerodynamic enhancement effect of the propeller on the wing in the DHEPA, and a dynamics method is utilized to calculate the dynamics performance of the aircraft at several important stages. The results show that, compared with the reference aircraft, the lift of the DHEPA is increased by 46%. Under typical sectors, the DHEPA has a higher rate of climb and maximum leveling off speed at cruise, and a significantly lower fuel consumption.

Keywords

• distributed hybrid electrical propulsion
• fuel consumption rate
• power allocation
• aerodynamic performance
• dynamics performance
• convex optimization