Researchers at Siemens have created a new prototype electric motor
specifically designed for aircraft that weighs in at just 50 kg (110 lb)
and is claimed to produce about 260 kW (348 hp) at just 2,500 RPM.
The motor has been specially designed for use in aircraft. With
a quoted power five times greater than any comparable powerplant, the
new motor is fair enough to get aircraft with take-off weights of
up to 1,800 kg (2 ton) off the ground.
According to Researchers they manufactured such a light weight but powerful motor by studying all previous electric aircraft motors components and
incorporating optimized improvements to these in their new prototype.
They also utilized a number of computer
simulation methods to model the motor prior to construction, before then
applying the findings to produce the lightest and strongest set of
components possible. This whole new Siemens electric motor is also direct drive and does not require
a transmission, spinning a propeller up to speeds around 2,500 RPM.
After getting success, the new aircraft electric drive system achieves a claimed
weight-to-performance ratio of 5 kW per kilogram. This ratio is an
notable figure if compared to similarly powerful
industrial electric motors used in heavy machinery that produce less
than 1 kW per kilogram, or even to more efficient electric motors for
vehicles that generate around 2 kW per kilogram.
"This innovation will make it possible to build series hybrid-electric aircraft with four or more seats," said Frank Anton, Head of eAircraft at Siemens Corporate Technology, the company's central research unit. "We're convinced that the use of hybrid-electric drives in regional airliners with 50 to 100 passengers is a real medium-term possibility."
This is just a entry to the
company's joint venture with the Diamond aircraft company by this electric motor invention, who they
supply with electric fan motors for their DA36 E-Star 2 motor glider.
The last one generated just 60 kW.
This electric motor developed with the support of the German Aviation
Research Program LuFo as a project of Grob Aircraft and Siemens, is
planned to start in-flight-testing before the end of 2015.
Source: Siemens
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