Investigation of Electric Energy Storage Technologies for Electrified Aviation

Kurzfassung

The aviation sector’s rapid growth contributes to global CO2 emissions, prompting Europe to aim for a 55% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Achieving these goals necessitates a shift from jet fuel to alternative energy sources. However, the weight and efficiency of expanded electrical systems are significant challenges. The key to implementing electric propulsion systems (EPS) in aviation lies in improving energy storage technology. Current storage systems such as supercapacitors and flywheels offer several advantages, but the main drawback is their low energy density, while batteries, despite being promising, are limited to short-range flights due to their low gravimetric energy density compared to jet fuels. Beside the energy density of the cell, the battery’s specific power and its cell-to-pack weight ratio need to be improved. This thesis aims to investigate current and future electric energy storage technologies focusing on their use in electric aircraft. The study primarily focuses on battery powered aircraft, considering environmental impacts and safety regulations. The objective is to design or identify a reliable storage system for electric aviation propulsion. The research involves designing and modelling of a battery pack with the state-of-the-art battery cell to address the most significant threads associated with integrating batteries into aircraft systems. This model can also be used to predict the behaviour of a battery and the results deliver the baseline for the physical design of the battery for example in terms of thermal management.