E-SATstart
In the project E-SATstart (funding reference (FKZ) 20M1908C), key technologies for electro-hybrid Silent Air Taxi are studied. The planned activities at IEM focus on the development of an electric motor and power electronic converter that can be certified for aviation. The focus is on Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) of the drivetrain to evaluate the safety critical aspect concerning aviation. To this end, the methodology for modeling the expected lifetime of winding systems developed at IEM is leveraged.
The comprehensive measurement equipment at IEM will be utilized to validate the model of expected lifetime. In addition, the requirements specific for aviation will be explored, such as the application at low atmospheric pressure. For this purpose, the laboratory will be additionally equipped with a vacuum chamber to examine the motorettes and part winding systems at various values of atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the possibilities to examine the thermal characteristics of specimens under the influence of realistic cooling system will be explored.
A power electronic converter will be designed and built at the IEM to study the interactions between converter and electric machine. The converter is based on wide bandgap semiconductor technology, thus enabling the high power density of the electric drivetrain. The impact of high switching frequency, short switching time, as well as electromagnetic compatibility on the dynamic performance of the drivetrain will be analysed. An integrated design of electric machine and power electronic converter will be implemented. The specific requirements related to the flight altitude and the corresponding low atmospheric pressure are also considered here. At the forefront of the analysis is the determination of the characteristic failure modes and avoidance strategies.
The work will be carried out in close cooperation with intistutes at RWTH Aachen University and industry partners listed below:
- e.SAT GmbH (e.SAT)
- Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery (IST) of RWTH Aachen University
- Institute of Aerospace Systems (ILR) of RWTH Aachen University
- Institute of Electrical Machines (IEM) of RWTH Aachen University
- nstitute of Flight System Dynamics (FSD) of RWTH Aachen University
- Institute of Structural Mechanics and Lightweight Design (SLA) of RWTH Aachen University
- Institute of Textile Technology (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT)
- Helix Carbon GmbH (Helix)
- ENGIRO GmbH (Engiro)
- IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH (IMA)
- CirQua GmbH (CirQua)
- MTU Aero Engines AG (MTU)
- Liebherr-Aerospace Lindeberg GmbH (Liebherr)