Electric and Hydrogen aeroplanes - feasibility and issues

I've been following the progress of the Heart Aerospace ES-19 ever since it was announced, which will be a 4 engined commuter plane seating 19 passengers. It seems to have attracted some interest from Finnair and some local carriers. They also unveiled a detailed model of the aircraft as well as a full scale prototype of one of the electric engines.

View: https://twitter.com/flygkanalen/status/1308837671138140160


However, this article presents a damming indictment of the project, claiming that with the weight of the batteries it will be almost 2.4 times heavier than a Beech 1900, meaning that the useful range will be severely affected. The article concludes by saying that battery tech still has to make huge strides for a large commuter aircraft to be viable.


Edit: I was able to upload a better shot of the electric engine as well as the cabin mockup.
 

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Some big news breaking now, apparently United is interested in the Heart ES-19 and is willing to place a big order if the plane meets expectations. I assume United has an engineering dept that analyzed this design and determined that it was feasible so I am somewhat optimistic. But there still is the nagging issue of very low range for a electric aircraft of this size.


 
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If you can fill it full of batteries, theirs probably room for a hybrid electric option in there somewhere.
Definitely, and it is being explored upon. However, a balance has to be found between the weight of the batteries and the power of the other engines, so as to give optimum efficiency.
 
The P&W approach, less radical but with a sensible 30% decrease in fuel consumption (target) :

MONTREAL, July 14 (Reuters) - Canada is expected to announce government support for Pratt & Whitney to bring a hybrid engine to first flight, as the country eyes a broader role in developing new technologies to lower emissions, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
[...]
Pratt & Whitney, which dominates the turboprop market, has been working toward a flight demonstration of an integrated hybrid engine under an effort called Project 804. Testing is to be performed on a De Havilland Canada Dash-8 100 turboprop.

Previously, Pratt said the hybrid-electric propulsion system could yield an average fuel savings of 30% for regional prop planes.

 
 



Looking at electric aviation, just about everything have to be tried to enable functional range. Even ultra-strong materials couldn't do much when battery weight fractions is just plain too much. WIG is one that needs exploration.

Much work needs to be done to deal with higher ocean states. Distributed propulsion and rapid electric response curves, plus cheap flight computers promises improvements in control that nonetheless need to be realized.
----------------------------

With the miserable mass to energy ratio of batteries, an additional technology that I think will be important is detaching batteries in stages of flight (like rocket boosters). A electrical aircraft that just drops the "climb" battery back to the starting airport can save so much weight and improve range accordingly.

There is research needed on how to do this economically and safely.
 
With the miserable mass to energy ratio of batteries, an additional technology that I think will be important is detaching batteries in stages of flight (like rocket boosters). A electrical aircraft that just drops the "climb" battery back to the starting airport can save so much weight and improve range accordingly.

There is research needed on how to do this economically and safely.
I doubt that such a system would be viable, and that more research into bio-ethanol should be done for flights in excess of 90 minutes, whilst electric aircraft can fill in for flights under that time. Fully electric aircraft for long-haul flights are simply unviable.
 
The thing is that straight electric propulsion is projected to drop 40% the cost for short haul before hard regulation hits aviation emissions. One can add significant costs on a base system to add range and still hit cost superiority/parity to fossil fueled aircraft. There is just a space for really complex methods of extending range and still make economic sense.

With biofuels, growing population and meat consumption will put pressure on land and prices is unlikely to drop (unless we all eat bugs or beans) below what fossil fuels.
 
With biofuels, growing population and meat consumption will put pressure on land and prices is unlikely to drop (unless we all eat bugs or beans) below what fossil fuels.
Unless new, more efficient methods of creating fuels on waste food matter is delved into.
 
An interesting development will be if we can integrate the batteries/energy storage solutions into the physical structure of the aircraft therefore allowing the weight of such to be spread more across both structure and propulsion rather than as an add on for propulsion only.
 
That's what fuel cells do. The energy storage is the LH2, CH4... The conversion mechanism is the fuel cell (Solide Oxyde) and the battery generate the power used by the electrical engine.

3-3-8.jpg
 
An interesting development will be if we can integrate the batteries/energy storage solutions into the physical structure of the aircraft therefore allowing the weight of such to be spread more across both structure and propulsion rather than as an add on for propulsion only.
Interesting thought, but wouldn't that add some safety issues in the event of an incident?
 
That's what fuel cells do. The energy storage is the LH2, CH4... The conversion mechanism is the fuel cell (Solide Oxyde) and the battery generate the power used by the electrical engine.
You're missing my point - I am talking about the physical structure being the battery. That is don't have structure + battery but rather structure that is battery as well. Might be possible through some innovative design and full 3D printing of parts - essentially building aircraft 'organically' (for want of a better word).
 
Sorry. My mistake.
IMOHO, you would want to keep the structure segregated from fire prone elements as @Wyvern suggested.

Metallic foams based skin pannels, as stated some time ago, would make some good components, structurally sound to hold liquid or gaseous fuel under pressure.
Regarding batteries, there is around some research for foldable battery panels, structurally sound, that could make for some good skin pannels (it doesn't have to be the entire outter skin). But notice that the weight gains are fairly marginal for batteries substitution regarding dedicated packs.
 
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Polymorphic batteries are another possibility, though expensive.
 

Even though the electric version of the P2012 will have a measly range of only 100 miles, I can see this aircraft as a fit for carriers like Loganair that have very short routes. But in order for it to be a real success, the range has to be drastically increased. You can't do much with 100 miles. Especially when things like having sufficient reserves for diversions are factored in.
 
The Director of the Air Academy (France) express his scepticism regarding Airbus vaunted EU subsidized hydrogen research for aviation, urging political bodies to pursue a more realistic approach:


To quote both prophet and John LOR Houbolt... "like a voice in the wilderness" unfortunately...

What bother me with LH2 aircraft ? even Johnson's Skunk Works could'nt pulled it out with SUNTAN. Different requirements and times, ok, but LH2 issues haven't changed by an inch...
 
There was an news item in the RAeS Aerospace magazine (August 2021) concerning the German company Deutsche Aircraft which was aiming to resurrect the Dornier 328 production line.

It had signed a Memorendum of Understanding (MoU) with H2FLY to convert a 328 into a hydrogen fuel cell-powered demonstrator (designated B328eco).

Plans were for a 2025 completion and the example would be the largest hydrogen powered demo aircraft and explore the possibility of a zero carbon regional flight for a 40 seat aircraft.

Sources:

Aerospace August 2021
 
What bother me with LH2 aircraft ? even Johnson's Skunk Works could'nt pulled it out with SUNTAN. Different requirements and times, ok, but LH2 issues haven't changed by an inch...
If done right it could be a "miracle" fuel. "If done right" is the key. I still think the best bet is with ethanol made from human waste (like thrown away food and sewage) or from inedible plants or from manure. More research into the field should be done, imo, but I am in no way an expert in fuels!
 



Looking at electric aviation, just about everything have to be tried to enable functional range. Even ultra-strong materials couldn't do much when battery weight fractions is just plain too much. WIG is one that needs exploration.

Much work needs to be done to deal with higher ocean states. Distributed propulsion and rapid electric response curves, plus cheap flight computers promises improvements in control that nonetheless need to be realized.
----------------------------

With the miserable mass to energy ratio of batteries, an additional technology that I think will be important is detaching batteries in stages of flight (like rocket boosters). A electrical aircraft that just drops the "climb" battery back to the starting airport can save so much weight and improve range accordingly.

There is research needed on how to do this economically and safely.
How about a good old fashioned winch launch, with the cable carrying power to the aircraft, appreciate its very different from today's operation, but we are mostly talking regional airports, or dedicated small runways at the hub airports. This would shirley save 20% of the power?

And the detachable battery pods sounds awfully like my VTOL idea, of drones that attach to give a VTOL, to an otherwise 'normal' aircraft.
 



Looking at electric aviation, just about everything have to be tried to enable functional range. Even ultra-strong materials couldn't do much when battery weight fractions is just plain too much. WIG is one that needs exploration.

Much work needs to be done to deal with higher ocean states. Distributed propulsion and rapid electric response curves, plus cheap flight computers promises improvements in control that nonetheless need to be realized.
----------------------------

With the miserable mass to energy ratio of batteries, an additional technology that I think will be important is detaching batteries in stages of flight (like rocket boosters). A electrical aircraft that just drops the "climb" battery back to the starting airport can save so much weight and improve range accordingly.

There is research needed on how to do this economically and safely.
How about a good old fashioned winch launch, with the cable carrying power to the aircraft, appreciate its very different from today's operation, but we are mostly talking regional airports, or dedicated small runways at the hub airports. This would shirley save 20% of the power?

And the detachable battery pods sounds awfully like my VTOL idea, of drones that attach to give a VTOL, to an otherwise 'normal' aircraft.

I did a winch launch one, as a passenger in a glider. That was... impressive. And a little brutal.
 



Looking at electric aviation, just about everything have to be tried to enable functional range. Even ultra-strong materials couldn't do much when battery weight fractions is just plain too much. WIG is one that needs exploration.

Much work needs to be done to deal with higher ocean states. Distributed propulsion and rapid electric response curves, plus cheap flight computers promises improvements in control that nonetheless need to be realized.
----------------------------

With the miserable mass to energy ratio of batteries, an additional technology that I think will be important is detaching batteries in stages of flight (like rocket boosters). A electrical aircraft that just drops the "climb" battery back to the starting airport can save so much weight and improve range accordingly.

There is research needed on how to do this economically and safely.
How about a good old fashioned winch launch, with the cable carrying power to the aircraft, appreciate its very different from today's operation, but we are mostly talking regional airports, or dedicated small runways at the hub airports. This would shirley save 20% of the power?

And the detachable battery pods sounds awfully like my VTOL idea, of drones that attach to give a VTOL, to an otherwise 'normal' aircraft.

I did a winch launch one, as a passenger in a glider. That was... impressive. And a little brutal.
Side by side? in a segburgh, for that wind in the hair feeling......and no suspension, probably close the WW1 flying experience we are going to get....
 
Found a nice blog on the topic.

Summary:
Hydrogen: fuel cell low efficiency(big heat exchanger), low power density kills payload for long haul for now.

Summary:
Hybrids: no free energy in the sky

Summary:
3% reduction in fuel against ideal conventional designs at max range, economics come from emissions taxes and short range (greater energy fraction from batteries) to up to 20% SFC fleet effects.
 
Found a nice blog on the topic.

Summary:
Hydrogen: fuel cell low efficiency(big heat exchanger), low power density kills payload for long haul for now.

Ah, using the Tu155 as proof of concept viability is flawed;- It’s widely reported it did just four or five LH2 flights. I’ve seen it said that the last one ended in a narrowly avoided catastrophe when a critical He2 purging system specifically designed to maintain the LH2 flight safety just didn’t work (not unserviceable, simply unable to perform its function) leading to an unplanned combustion in the cabin. Upon looking at the purge physics it was realised it was beyond them so they gave up with LH2. They then did 96 flights with liquid methane.

Beware of the euro hydrogen lobby claiming this was an example of a resounding LH2 success.
 
Found a nice blog on the topic.

Summary:
Hydrogen: fuel cell low efficiency(big heat exchanger), low power density kills payload for long haul for now.

Ah, using the Tu155 as proof of concept viability is flawed;- It’s widely reported it did just four or five LH2 flights. I’ve seen it said that the last one ended in a narrowly avoided catastrophe when a critical He2 purging system specifically designed to maintain the LH2 flight safety just didn’t work (not unserviceable, simply unable to perform its function) leading to an unplanned combustion in the cabin. Upon looking at the purge physics it was realised it was beyond them so they gave up with LH2. They then did 96 flights with liquid methane.

Beware of the euro hydrogen lobby claiming this was an example of a resounding LH2 success.

I've heard of that modified Tu-154 many times - and wondered why they had gone with natural gas, methane, but not LH2.
Now I have the answer: they did, but it nearly ended in disaster.

"an unplanned combustion in the cabin" - dear God. What an euphemism to describe a close brush with disaster.

According to Bart. Hendrickx Energya-Buran book, work on Tu-155 was an offspring of Gurko & Myasishchev M(G)-19 "Gurkolyot" nuclear rocketplane studies - which also used LH2 as fuel but obviously went nowhere.


And @flateric in turn told me Gurkolyot was a Soviet answer to Bussard ASPEN own nuclear rocketplane SSTO.

The space program has no other choice than accepting LH2 many hassles, because its high energy is necessary for that dauting ascent to orbit delta-v. And they pay a high toll to it.

Commercial aviation... I have doubts.
 
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I'm rooting instead for REL ultra-smart trick of storing NH3 and cracking it into LH2 to be fed into the turbofans.
In comparison with LH2, storage of NH3 is a piece of cake - much closer from kerosene. Including in the wings.
Fact is the X-15 had no disaster nor serious trouble related to NH3...
 
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Even though they have a commitment for an air ambulance version, I think the noise levels on this thing would be too high for regular air taxi services.
 

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