Honeywell’s 1-megawatt generator is an advanced, compact, and efficient power source that can also be used as a megawatt motor without modifications.
Honeywell recently completed the first round of testing of its 1-megawatt generator system. It is the latest power source designed to serve hybrid-electric aircraft and the industry’s first aerospace-grade electric machine that can also be used as a 1-megawatt motor without modifications marking it as our Innovation of the week.
What is the 1-megawatt generator?
The Honeywell 1-megawatt generator weighs about the same as a motor scooter and delivers enough energy to power an entire neighborhood block. Weighing roughly around 280 pounds it is compact with low weight. It saves fuel leading to sustainable and operational benefits for hybrid-electric propulsion and other applications.
Dave Marinick, president, of Engines and Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace said, “Honeywell’s megawatt generator is a new addition to our extensive portfolio and an industry first. It represents an important step in providing scalable solutions that advance industry innovation and support more sustainable and efficient operations. Essential high power, through advanced and compact technology such as this, impacts both the future of flight and hybrid-electric aerospace propulsion.”
These turbogenerator solutions can provide electricity to operate high-power electric motors, charge batteries, or in required cases mechanically drive a propeller to satisfy missions from heavy-lift cargo drones to air taxis and commuter aircraft.
Technical specifications
The megawatt generator operated at 1.02 MVA power levels during successful testing. The test demonstration ran continuously at 900 kilowatts, highlighting the megawatt generator’s high-power density (~8kw/kg) and efficiency (~97%), which are key enablers in hybrid-electric propulsion for both aerospace and ground applications.
When compared to other aerospace generators in the market today, key performance differentiators include a much higher efficiency (97% versus 88%-90%) and improved power density (8kW/kg versus 2k-3kW/kg).
Sustainability
Aircraft mostly use fuel-burning engines to mechanically turn rotors, propellers, or fans. Many new designs, however, use a distributed electric propulsion architecture, in which many electric motors can be tilted or turned off for vertical takeoff and horizontal flight. A Honeywell turbogenerator can provide electric power for multiple electric motors anywhere on an aircraft.
Stephane Fymat, vice president and general manager for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Urban Air Mobility at Honeywell Aerospace said, “There is an inherent need for electric and hybrid-electric power as the urban air mobility segment takes shape and unmanned aerial vehicles enter service. Our turbogenerators provide a safe, lightweight package to serve these burgeoning segments, and we’re designing our solutions to meet the unique needs of customers developing aerial vehicles of the future.”
The new turbogenerator from Honeywell will be able to run on aviation biofuel, including Honeywell Green Jet Fuel, which is chemically similar to fossil fuel but made from more sustainable alternatives, as well as conventional jet fuel and diesel.
Honeywell pioneered the sustainable aviation fuel market with its UOP Ecofining process. Honeywell Green Jet Fuel produced by this process is blended seamlessly with petroleum-based jet fuel at a commercial scale. When used in up to a 50% blend with petroleum-based jet fuel, Honeywell Green Jet Fuel requires no changes to aircraft technology and meets all critical specifications for flight.
Honeywell and Faradair Aerospace
Honeywell signed a memorandum of understanding with British startup Faradair Aerospace to collaborate on systems and a turbogenerator unit that will run on sustainable aviation fuel to power Faradair’s Bio-Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA). Faradair intends to deliver 300 hybrid-electric BEHAs into service by 2030, of which 150 will be in a firefighting configuration. Honeywell is in advanced discussions with several other potential turbogenerator customers, working to help define power requirements based on mission profiles required by various manufacturers.
The team is currently increasing the capability of the setup to support testing continuous operation at higher power levels.
Honeywell – Emerging player in the UAM market
Honeywell is a major player in the emerging UAM segment, offering a full line of avionics, propulsion, and operational systems—all tailored for piloted and autonomous vertical take-off and landing UAM and cargo vehicles. Honeywell also offers aerospace integration and certification expertise for enabling the commercialization of these vehicles.
Taylor Alberstadt, senior director of Power Systems Business Development at Honeywell Aerospace said, “Honeywell’s unrivaled legacy in the manufacturing of auxiliary power units and larger gas turbine engines gives us the ability to create unique power systems for future vehicles. We think the future of aviation will include many new types of propulsion and power systems, and Honeywell is prepared to lead the way in its development. Over the years, our experienced team of researchers and designers has developed several cutting-edge technologies to identify and address our customers’ needs and to advance innovation in our industry. The development of our megawatt generator is another example of this, providing power levels several times higher than those available today while still meeting aerospace expectations around size and weight. Additionally, the megawatt generator’s potential to be seamlessly integrated with our existing gas turbine engines to create the most power-dense turbogenerators in the industry, including the ability to run on sustainable aviation fuels, is also exciting and will usher in an era of cleaner and less expensive air travel.”
With the tagline – Your challenges are our challenges, Honeywell vouches for Operational needs, Safety and acceptance.
