EcoPulse, the distributed hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft demonstrator created in collaboration with Daher, Safran, and Airbus, has completed its flight test campaign. This has provided essential insights into achieving the decarbonization targets for air transport by 2050. As a symbol of the French aerospace industry, this joint project has offered invaluable experience in the design, certification, production, and operation of hybrid-electric aircraft.
EcoPulse conducted its inaugural hybrid-electric test flight on November 29, 2023, from Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport. Since then, EcoPulse has logged 100 flight hours and completed around 50 test flights using the distributed hybrid propulsion system, with the final one occurring in July 2024. These tests showcased unprecedented onboard electric power levels for distributed electric propulsion, featuring a network voltage of about 800 volts DC and a power output of 350 kilowatts.
The flight tests produced important insights, providing an objective evaluation of the maturity of hybridization technologies, an assessment of their performance when integrated into the aircraft, and an identification of operational limitations.
For example, the tests indicated that synchronizing the ePropellers (electric motors) phasing can decrease interior noise. This synchronization is an extra advantage of the groundbreaking flight control computer, which is mainly intended to steer the aircraft by replacing traditional control surfaces through the modulation of electric power distribution among the ePropellers.
More broadly, EcoPulse identified key challenges in decarbonizing aviation:
Electric and hybrid-electric architectures
Development of key components: batteries (performance and operational range) and high-voltage management systems (>400 V)
Pilot assistance with specialized interfaces
Demonstration logic for airworthiness
Optimization of weight and noise
Skills associated with managing complexity
The flight test campaign established the foundation for compliance documents to fulfil regulatory requirements for hybrid-electric propulsion flights, forming the basis for certifying the safety of innovative aircraft configurations.
The EcoPulse project showcases the strength of high-level cooperation between Daher, Safran, and Airbus. The partners demonstrated significant synergies between general and commercial aviation by pooling their expertise and test resources.
"We are particularly pleased with the success of the EcoPulse program and its results. This was the first time we tested a complete hybrid-electric propulsion system in flight, and these trials represented a significant milestone in our technology roadmap," said Eric Dalbiès, Senior Vice President - Strategy & Chief Technology Officer at Safran. "The lessons learned enable us to continue validating decarbonization technologies."
“EcoPulse has enabled Daher to take a crucial step forward in developing a low-carbon aircraft. This project not only helped us design an operational system for a demonstration prototype but also tackled critical technological hurdles. Thanks to this rich and unprecedented collaboration, we have made significant progress toward hybridization,” emphasized Pascal Laguerre, Chief Technology Officer of Daher.
“This EcoPulse campaign allows us to advance certain hybrid-electric technologies, such as high-voltage batteries, and integrate them into future aircraft, helicopters, and air mobility solutions,” said Jean-Baptiste Manchette, Head of Propulsion of Tomorrow at Airbus. “With distributed electric propulsion, we achieved our goal of modelling flight physics and energy management at the aircraft level, key elements for shaping the next generation of aircraft,” he added.
EcoPulse is a joint initiative backed by CORAC (the French Civil Aeronautics Research Council) and co-funded by the DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority) through France Relance and NextGeneration EU.
Revealed at the 2019 Paris Air Show, EcoPulse is built on a Daher TBM aircraft platform and features six ePropellers (supplied by Safran) positioned along its wings. Its propulsion system combines two energy sources: a turbogenerator (an electric generator powered by a gas turbine from Safran) and a high-voltage battery pack (supplied by Airbus). Central to this setup is a Power Distribution and Rectification Unit (PDRU), which safeguards the high-voltage network and allocates available electrical power, along with high-voltage supply harnesses (both supplied by Safran). The battery, developed by Airbus, is rated at 800 volts DC and can provide up to 350 kilowatts of power.
The demonstrator also benefits from the aerodynamic and acoustic integration expertise of the European aircraft manufacturer, with Airbus’ development of the flight control computer enabling aircraft manoeuvres via the ePropellers, and synchro-phasing to support future acoustic recommendations for aircraft.
Upon the completion of the EcoPulse program, Daher, Safran, and Airbus have reiterated their dedication to sustainable aviation. This groundbreaking initiative establishes the foundation for the technological and regulatory progress essential to tackling the environmental challenges of future air transportation.
Comentarios