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Conceptual study for environment-friendly flight by Staff Writers Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 05, 2020
How can airborne electric mobility be achieved while greatly reducing the emissions due to air transport? How can aircraft with alternative propulsion systems be made both environmentally friendly and economically viable? Will such aircraft lead to changes to other parts of the air transport system, such as airports or maintenance facilities? The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) intends to answer these questions over the next four years. Since the beginning of 2020, 45 researchers from 20 DLR institutes have been working together on the Exploration of Electric Aircraft Concepts and Technologies (EXACT) project, which is developing new technological components for an environmentally friendly commercial aircraft. The overall objective is to make the necessary technologies ready for use in a passenger aircraft with at least 70 seats and a range of 2000 kilometres. To this end, different hybrid-electric propulsion concepts and possible aircraft configurations are being investigated during the initial stage. However, the researchers will also look at airport infrastructure and at how new propulsion systems may affect the atmosphere and thus the climate. "DLR has globally unique competence for conducting such complex studies. Our 45-person team is combining expertise from their various fields of research. This will enable us to achieve both the thematic breadth and the scientific depth that this subject merits," says Johannes Hartmann of the DLR Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics, which is leading the project.
Digital design process The planning of production, operation and maintenance are an integral part of the design from the very start. In the past, aircraft design was primarily driven by cost considerations, with climate impact only being analysed later. "For the first time, we are turning this process around and are thus adopting a revolutionary approach to our work," explains Hartmann.
Climate-neutral propulsion systems For several years, the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics has been analysing and evaluating the performance of different types of fuel cells for use in air transport. In such research, fuel cells are characterised in the laboratory and investigated using the four-seater Hy4 passenger aircraft. The knowledge accumulated in the EXACT project, coupled with simulation models and pilot applications, will now be harnessed to assess how hybrid energy concepts can interact and be put into practice in higher performance aircraft.
Air transport system 2040 The team is developing models for climate impact, noise, and product and energy lifecycles. Alongside the effects on the environment, the researchers will also examine the required investment and the costs of operation and maintenance. Special refuelling systems would be required if aircraft are to be powered with hydrogen. Batteries will need to be able to be charged, stored and recycled. The requirements that the existing infrastructure places on the operation of a new aircraft design remain to be determined. An initial whole-system concept for environmentally compatible air transport will be ready in four years. Aircraft engineers, atmospheric researchers and electrical engineers from 20 different DLR institutes are working together to develop valid models and devise solutions.
China's airlines, oil firms post big Q1 virus losses Shanghai (AFP) April 30, 2020 China's big state-controlled airlines and oil firms said they suffered deep losses during the first quarter, when the country was at the height of its coronavirus battle, and warned of further pain to come. China Southern Airlines, China Eastern, and Air China posted combined losses of nearly $2 billion in January-March, when domestic travel was essentially shut down for weeks and international links also were severely curtailed to stem the virus's spread. China Southern, Asia's largest carrier, ... read more
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