Electric Propulsion in Passenger Jet Airplanes : Requirements to realize all-electric propulsion 

Abstract: Passenger jet airplane propulsion systems are today dominated by turbo-jet engines that burn fossil fuels. The unsustainability of this is a concern both from an economic and environmental point of view. This research identifies the limiting factors in achieving to build a compelling battery-electric passenger jet airplane, and predict the range that can be achieved today and in the foreseeable future. literature study was performed to find the necessary performance data for all technical components. To analyze the performance of an electric propulsion system, the Boeing 787-8 was chosen as a reference and comparison. Piano-X, a program used for simulating the performance of different aircrafts under different conditions was then used to get data for fuel consumption and performance data for the airplane. The gravimetric energy density of the batteries was found to be the greatest limiting factor. Electric motors and power electronics were found to have about the same performance as a modern turbo-fan engine in terms of gravimetric power density. The results also showed that with today’s batteries, that present an energy density of 250 Wh/kg, the range is limited to about 600 km, assuming a 40% cell-mass-fraction and 25% improvement in flight efficiency. In conclusion, the challenge in creating a compelling all-electric passenger jet airplane is a big one, but not impossible. Assuming battery technology continues to improve at current rate, and design optimizations are done to the airplanes, a range over 1400 km seems to be possible within the next decade.