Alternative Power Sources: Electrifying Commercial Aircraft
In a world with an ever-increasing demand for transportation, solutions are needed to limit the amount of pollution generated by vehicles. One solution for limiting emissions from vehicles is to make them electric. This research seeks to answer this question: is an electrically powered jet engine feasible for commercial aircraft? This project takes a standard CFM56-7B24 turbofan jet engine that powers a Boeing 737-800 plane and explores the conceptual use of electric motors to drive the fan and compressor assembly. The overall weight of this concept is compared to the maximum operating weight of the Boeing 737-800. The total amount of kilowatt-hours required is calculated as well as the total weight of batteries needed to satisfy the energy requirements of this concept. Based on the findings of this research: current battery densities are too low to provide a weight-effective solution to petroleum-based jet fuel.
MATH 499, Capstone
Brian Carrigan
P103
2:30 – 3 PM