Electric Skies

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University *

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260

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Mechanical Engineering

Date

Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by airmaneyck

1 Electric Aircraft Student Institution Course Number and Name Instructor Date Submitted

ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT 2 Electric Aircraft An electric aircraft has electricity as the primary power, sourced from batteries or fuel cells. The operation requires extensive technology, including semiconductors, diodes, Zener diodes, transistors, and silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCR). Semiconductors are critical in aircraft technology; electric aircraft cannot be exempted from their usage because they create diodes and transistors (Federal Aviation Administration, 2018). Diodes create electrical circuits for navigation lights and passive receivers in aircraft. Technology like the Zener diode prevents electric fuses from blowing by utilizing a reverse bias with a specified breakdown voltage. Comparatively, transistors create technology related to aircraft lights, sensors, and transducers. The primary issues with an electronic aircraft surround battery life, electric motors, and heating. Electric crafts’ battery life will probably last 3 to five years, which is quite low, and low energy density reduces its ability to emit adequate charges over time. Similarly, aircraft need thermal management processes to prevent batteries from heating during intense motor activities (Mahmoudi & Lents, 2020). A slight mishap may cause motor breakdown and overheating, reducing electric propulsion to short-haul routes and increasing safety issues if the plane experiences power loss. Technological advancements in hydrogen fuel cells propel the electric aircraft investigation because they are fast-charging, cost-effective, durable, and promote green energy. Despite the invention, it is impossible to eliminate Zener diodes, silicon-controlled rectifiers, and transistors from electric aircraft because they manage the flow of electric current which operate inverters. These inverters convert direct current to alternating current relevant in generators and motors (Federal Aviation Administration., 2018). The biggest challenge in creating a complete electric aircraft involves energy storage, facilitating battery storage capacity for long-range flights. Electric aircraft need battery

ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT 3 storage technologies facilitating thermal management and power conversion systems for longevity. Comparatively, electric aircraft designers can eliminate piston engines for propelling engine motions because they are irrelevant in electric turbine engines (Siadkowska et al., 2021).

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ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT 4 References Federal Aviation Administration. (2018). The aviation maintenance technician handbook– general (FAA-H-8083-30A). Mahmoudi, R., & Lents, C. (2020). Early Design Stage Evaluation of Thermal Performance of Battery Heat Acquisition System of a Hybrid Electric Aircraft. Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage MAY , 17 , 021107-1. Siadkowska, K., Czajka, B., Ścisłowski, K., & Wendeker, M. (2021). Analysis of propulsion units dedicated to test stands for aviation systems. Combustion Engines , 185 (2), 39- 43. https://doi.org/10.19206/CE-139405