The facility assesses electrified aircraft propulsion systems, ensuring safe and efficient technology development for aviation’s future.
Engineers at magniX achieved a significant milestone at NASA’s Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) facility by demonstrating the capabilities of a battery-powered engine that could help turn the hybrid electric flight into a reality. This achievement, completed in April 2024, marks the end of the initial phase of altitude tests conducted under NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project.
EPFD, a collaboration between NASA and industry partners, aims to advance hybrid-electric propulsion technologies for future commercial aircraft. The tests at NEAT, located at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, provide a controlled environment that mimics high-altitude conditions without actual flight.
This facility enables researchers to assess the performance and reliability of electrified aircraft propulsion systems and components under realistic operational scenarios, ensuring the development of safe and efficient technologies for the aviation industry’s future.
Brad French, lead systems engineer for NASA EPFD, said “The testing at NEAT is critical for high-power electrified aircraft propulsion technologies because many of the potential problems that a design might encounter only present themselves at higher altitudes. We do our best to analyze machines through sea-level testing, but nothing compares to actually putting them in the environments they will experience on the wing and directly observing how they behave.”
Progress on the Ground
At higher altitudes, electrified aircraft propulsion systems face challenges such as thinner air and increased temperature variations that can affect their performance.
The initial phase of testing at NASA’s Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) facility aimed to assess these factors. Researchers focused on studying the impact of temperature and high voltage on the electric engine during simulated flight conditions.
Researchers conducted partial discharge tests, which examine the strength of the system’s electrical insulation, to help minimize risks of failure that might occur due to excess stress on the components. Additionally, researchers investigated the thermal management system of the engine to optimize heat dissipation and ensure efficient operation throughout varying conditions. These efforts are crucial for advancing the reliability and performance of electrified aircraft propulsion systems, paving the way for future innovations in aviation technology.
Brad French, said “The development of new technologies is a methodical and incremental process, By testing these systems in a controlled environment, we can verify that they operate safely and as expected, or isolate and solve any problems before they pose a significant risk.”
Gearing Up for Hybrid Electric Flight Tests
Under EPFD, magniX is retrofitting a De Havilland Dash 7 aircraft with a new hybrid electric propulsion system that combines traditional turbo-propellor engines with electric motors. This vehicle will be used to demonstrate fuel burn and emission reductions in regional aircraft carrying up to 50 passengers.
Nasa recently completed baseline flight testing of the Dash 7 in Moses Lake, Washington, surveying the state of the aircraft before modification. The baseline flight test Data will be used to compare fuel savings and performance boosts with the new electrified system. With baseline flight tests complete, magniX will begin modifying the aircraft in preparation for hybrid electric flight tests planned for 2026.
The next phase of ground tests at NASA’s NEAT facility is scheduled for the summer of 2024 and will assess electrified aircraft propulsion systems under more extreme flight conditions, including higher power levels and temperatures. These tests aim to gather crucial data to establish new standards and regulations for future electrified aircraft.
NASA collaborates with GE Aerospace and magniX to explore various hybrid electric propulsion system designs. GE Aerospace conducted altitude tests of their hybrid electric system at NEAT in 2022. Together, these partnerships accelerate the development of electrified aircraft technologies and generate valuable scientific insights.
The data collected will inform the advancement of electrified aircraft propulsion concepts and drive innovation in research and technology, contributing to a sustainable future for aviation.
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Q. – What milestone did magniX achieve at NASA’s NEAT facility?
A. – Demonstrated a battery-powered engine for hybrid electric flight.
Q. – What project is associated with the NEAT tests?
A. – NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project.
