Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Alex Chidester, Senior, chidesta@my.erau.edu Percy Solomon, Senior, solomor5@my.erau.edu Kiana Arroyo, Senior, arroyok@my.erau.edu Kevin Nadolne, Senior, nadolnek@my.erau.edu Annabelle Stube, Senior, STUBEA@my.erau.edu
Lead Presenter's Name
Annabelle Stube
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor Name
Kimberly Heinzer
Abstract
The aviation industry has significant negative impacts on the environment through greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution. As small passenger aircraft tend to have more emissions per passenger mile than larger aircraft, this project aims to design a new hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft to be an innovative environmentally conscious option for short-range, limited-passenger flights. The design process focuses on constraint analyses, high stability, emission and noise reduction, uniqueness and marketability, and utilizing upcoming propulsion systems. Several new propulsion system options were assessed to prioritize viability and power and minimize environmental impacts. The hybrid-electric propulsion system and 12-passenger capacity were decided to maximize marketability while reducing weight and operational costs. Adopting a hybrid electric propulsion system aligns with environmentally friendly objectives by mitigating fuel consumption and reducing the overall aircraft weight. Furthermore, it decreases the frequency of maintenance by extending the lifespan of the aircraft through reduced engine wear. This design provides a hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft to limit the environmental effects of limited-passenger, point-to-point flights that optimize short-haul operational costs with the possibility for new configurations and larger models in the future.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Hybrid-Electric Regional Passenger Aircraft: Emphasizing Environmentally Impactful Technology
The aviation industry has significant negative impacts on the environment through greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution. As small passenger aircraft tend to have more emissions per passenger mile than larger aircraft, this project aims to design a new hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft to be an innovative environmentally conscious option for short-range, limited-passenger flights. The design process focuses on constraint analyses, high stability, emission and noise reduction, uniqueness and marketability, and utilizing upcoming propulsion systems. Several new propulsion system options were assessed to prioritize viability and power and minimize environmental impacts. The hybrid-electric propulsion system and 12-passenger capacity were decided to maximize marketability while reducing weight and operational costs. Adopting a hybrid electric propulsion system aligns with environmentally friendly objectives by mitigating fuel consumption and reducing the overall aircraft weight. Furthermore, it decreases the frequency of maintenance by extending the lifespan of the aircraft through reduced engine wear. This design provides a hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft to limit the environmental effects of limited-passenger, point-to-point flights that optimize short-haul operational costs with the possibility for new configurations and larger models in the future.