Electric propulsion: using sustainable energy in Advanced Air Mobility

ABSTRACT: Electric propulsion: using sustainable energy in Advanced Air Mobility Environmental preservation, the depletion of fossil fuels, pollution, and climate change have all fueled the pursuit for more sustainable and clean forms of transportation in recent decades. In this regard, several agencies and associations have defined a set of quantitative and qualitative goals in terms of efficiency, reliability, power density, and economical costs to be met by next generation full electric vehicles. This is the reason why many businesses and startups are working on developing eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft as a viable way to cut carbon emissions, relieve traffic in cities, and provide faster modes of transportation. According to estimates by Morgan Stanley and Roland Berger, the market for Advanced Air mobility (AAM) would develop at an exponential rate, reaching 50,000 UAM vehicles and a 1.5 trillion dollars market by 2040. eVTOLs are a particular class of electric aircraft designed for urban air mobility, short-distance transportation, and other aerial applications. eVTOLs are electrically propelled and use a number of rotors or propellers to accomplish vertical takeoff and landing. They often have a streamlined design and are intended for shorter, more efficient urban or regional flights. Many eVTOL designs are being explored, and they may be used for passenger transportation, cargo delivery, emergency services, and various other applications. These aircrafts are often autonomous and may use advanced technologies such as electric propulsion, advanced materials, and sophisticated control systems to enable safe and efficient operation. In comparison to modern helicopters, eVTOL aircraft are designed with a far smaller acoustic footprint. In an era of renawable transportation, electric aircrafts are set to redefine how people travel. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is the study of how electric propulsion can be used in Avanced Air Mobility. With that purpose in mind, in this project, an eVTOL subsystem sizing procedure is discussed. In particular, starting from the mission profile, a study is conducted on the main eVTOL components: battery, inverter, motor, gearbox and propeller. Using Matlab and Simulink, a battery model and the respective control circuit are developed. With this model, by selecting a mission profile, the user obtains an estimate of the energy consumption and the power required to fulfill the desired mission. These values represent the input data of the eVTOL aircraft propulsion system design. Then, starting from an analysis related to the main electric motors used for the eVTOL aircraft, the motor and inverter that allow to fly the mission are chosen. For completeness, through the values of torque and power downstream of the motor, a structural analysis of the shafts that are inside the gearbox is conducted, to verify that the rotor has the rpm and torque values needed to complete the task.