EcoPulse — the distributed hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft demonstrator developed by Daher, Safran, and Airbus — has concluded its flight test campaign, delivering what company officials call “crucial insights to meet the decarbonization goals for air transport by 2050.”
EcoPulse performed its first hybrid-electric test flight Nov. 29, 2023, from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport in France. Since its maiden flight, EcoPulse accumulated 100 flight hours and performed some 50 test flights with the distributed hybrid propulsion system, the last of which took place in July 2024, according to company officials.
“These tests enabled the demonstration of unprecedented onboard electric power levels for distributed electric propulsion, with a network voltage of approximately 800 volts DC and a power output of 350 kilowatts,” Daher officials noted.
The flight tests yielded “significant findings,” according to company officials, including “an objective evaluation of hybridization technologies’ maturity, a performance assessment when integrated into the aircraft, and an identification of operational limitations.”
For instance, the tests showed that the synchro-phasing of the ePropellers (electric motors) can reduce interior noise. This synchro-phasing is an additional benefit of the flight control computer, primarily designed to maneuver the aircraft — substituting traditional control surfaces — by adjusting the distribution of electric power among the ePropellers, company officials explained.
“This was the first time we tested a complete hybrid-electric propulsion system in flight, and these trials represented a significant milestone in our technology roadmap,” said Eric Dalbiès, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Chief Technology Officer at Safran. “The lessons learned enable us to continue validating decarbonization technologies.”
“This EcoPulse campaign allows us to advance certain hybrid-electric technologies, such as high-voltage batteries, and integrate them into future aircraft, helicopters, and air mobility solutions,” said Jean-Baptiste Manchette, Head of Propulsion of Tomorrow at Airbus. “With distributed electric propulsion, we achieved our goal of modeling flight physics and energy management at the aircraft level, key elements for shaping the next generation of aircraft.”
Unveiled at the 2019 Paris Air Show, EcoPulse is based on a Daher TBM aircraft platform and equipped with six ePropellers provided by Safran distributed along its wings. Its propulsion system integrates two energy sources: A turbogenerator (an electric generator driven by a gas turbine provided by Safran) and a high-voltage battery pack (provided by Airbus).
At the heart of the architecture lies a Power Distribution and Rectification Unit (PDRU), which protects the high-voltage network and distributes available electrical power, along with high-voltage supply harnesses (both provided by Safran), according to company officials. The battery, designed by Airbus, is rated for 800 volts DC and can deliver up to 350 kilowatts of power.
For more information: Daher.com, SafranGroup.com, Airbus.com
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