USDC- True Zero Emission Unified Powertrain Architecture for Electric Aircraft

Description

The Glenn Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) coordinates with Center scientific and technical staff to identify priority Research/Engineering and technical areas for academic year- long design challenges which involve junior and senior student teams of undergraduates in multi-disciplinary majors in accredited US universities and colleges.  The USDC is extracurricular opportunity. NASA staff serve as mentors to students during the design process, and as judges to select the strongest solution entries for recognition. 

Project Background / Description

NASA recently invented a new closed cycle turbogeneration technology that can achieve true zero emissions while also saving up to 50% fuel consumption.  This project will develop a detailed engineering model of the Closed Strayton Quad Generator.

Challenge Objectives

Design a 70% efficient, 6 kW/kg Closed Strayton Quad Generator system for a 10 MW electric aircraft. Microgravity Wind Tunnel assembly prototype on loan to university.

1. Complete the closed Strayton cycle design
2. Complete the acoustically cooled turbine (Fig. 1) 
3. Complete the acoustic quad loop test 
4. Complete the rotating heat exchanger model (Fig. 2) 

Mission Performance/Requirements

It enables a common EAP architecture as shown in Fig.1 and Fig.2 that can save at least 30% fuel burn with a multi-fuel zero-emission power generator as shown in Fig. 3.   

The University of Michigan Institute of Sustainable Aviation (MISA) also completed this study, “Conceptual Design Studies of Zero Emission Electric Aircraft Powered by a Strayton Combined Cycle Propulsion System” showing significant fuel burn savings compared to fuel cells and open cycle turbines:

H2 Strayton	Fuel Cells	Ker. Strayton	H2 Turbopr	Ker. Turbopr.
0.015	0.0254	0.0371	0.0409	0.0852

Key Considerations

This technology enables zero emission aircraft without compromising safety or range.  It was selected AIAA Aviation EATS Conference Best Paper, “True Zero Emission Electric Aircraft Technologies”, AIAA 2023-3987.

System Design

This work establishes a new electric aircraft propulsion technology category for achieving true zero greenhouse gas emission with transport aircraft. This new category is enabled by a recently invented Closed Strayton Quad Generator and recently developed megawatt-scale electric propulsor motors that enable staged contra-rotating ducted fans in a single nacelle. The new electric aircraft propulsion system is described that is quiet, clean, efficient, reliable, safe and supports the global transition from jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel to future green hydrogen fuel with the goal of achieving truly zero impact on the environment. A design of this propulsion system is to be developed.

Literature Resources (As Needed)

Dyson, R.W., “True Zero Emission Electric Aircraft Technologies”, AIAA 2023-3987

Video: Closed Strayton Quad Generator Video

Application/Registration Information

Visit the USDC Main page

Contact Information

Jeresha Nixon
Education Program Specialist
Email: grc-university-design-challenge@mail.nasa.gov

Glenn Research Center – Office of STEM Engagement

Phone: (216) 433-6656
Email: grc-university-design-challenge@mail.nasa.gov