TRANSPORTATION
the payload . A hybrid electric aircraft will be heavier so improvements will be needed to boost overall efficiency when compared with today ’ s traditional aircraft .”
Power transmission “ We ’ re running a 2MW motor directly powering a turbo fan which will generate thrust , so in order to achieve efficiency in the megawatt class , you need to transmit the power at a very high voltage . We ’ ll be transmitting power around the E-Fan X at 3,000 volts DC , yet the highest voltage on aircrafts flying today is 230 volts – it ’ s a big step . The challenge at 3,000 volts is what we call partial discharge . You get a corona effect . Unless you put massive amounts of insulation around the cables , there is currant leakage from the transmission line to any conducting elements . At sea level in trains and
Electric propulsion : the future by Airbus and Siemens
44 March 2018