Rolls-Royce unveils its new 'turbogenerator' with a new small engine

June 27, 2022
The company is aiming to make zero-emission flights more attainable, Ameya Paleja writes for Interesting Engineering.

LONDON - Rolls-Royce, the world's second-largest aircraft engine manufacturer, has unveiled a new small engine that it calls the 'turbogenerator' aimed at advancing hybrid-electric flights, the company said in a press release, according to Ameya Paleja at Interesting Engineering. Continue reading original article.

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

27 June 2022 - Current battery technology means all-electric propulsion will enable eVTOL and fixed wing commuter aircraft for short flights in and between cities and island-hopping in locations like Norway and the Scottish Isles. By developing turbogenerator technology, that will be scaled to serve a power range between 500 kW and 1200 kW, we can open up new longer routes that our electric battery powered aircraft can also support.

Rolls-Royce experts based in Germany, Norway and Hungary are developing the turbogenerator design and working on its system integration and are focused on ensuring smart power distribution during flight. The turbogenerator will recharge batteries after take-off or power propellers directly, enabling aircraft to switch between power sources in flight. The research and development of this technology is being part funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Related: GE partners wtih BAE Systems on energy management for hybrid flight demonstrator program

Related: Pratt & Whitney Canada selects H55 as battery technology collaborator for regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program

Related: Volansi announces the launch of the long-range Voly M20 UAS

Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace

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