Hybrid drive for an aircraft

• US 8,640,439 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Hoffjann, Claus, Schuldzig, Hansgeorg, Westenberger, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANDREW H
• Application Number:
  US11/998,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 60/395.3, 607/72, 607/88, 607/87, 60/391.5, 60/391.63, 60/395.5, 606/98, 607/16, 607/18, 607/75, 60/393
• US Class Current: 60/39.55
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2027/026 comprising different types of power plants, e.g. combination of an electric motor and a gas-turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/02 Aircraft characterised by the type or position of power plants fuselages specially adapted for mounting power plants B64C1/16; wings specially adapted for power plants B64C3/32
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/026 comprising different types of power plants, e.g. combination of a piston engine and a gas-turbine Hybrid electric aircraft B64D27/33
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A drive device for an aircraft comprises a gas turbine apparatus for generating a first drive energy and electric motor for generating a second drive energy. The gas turbine apparatus and the electric motor are set up in such a way that the drive unit may be provided with at least one of the first drive energy and the second drive energy. The drive unit is set up to generate propulsion using at least one of the first drive energy and the second drive energy.

Claims

1. A method for driving an aircraft comprising:

generating a first drive energy using a gas turbine apparatus;

generating a second drive energy using an electric motor;

generating injection water and electrical energy by a fuel-cell system by using a hydrogen-containing fuel and an oxidant;

providing the injection water to a condenser;

providing the electrical energy to the electric motor;

injecting the injection water from the condenser into a combustion process in a combustion chamber of the gas turbine apparatus;

providing at least one of the first drive energy and the second drive energy to a drive unit via a first drive shaft of one of the gas turbine apparatus and the electric motor selectively coupled to the drive unit;

selectively providing the other of the first drive energy and the second drive energy via a second drive shaft of the other of the gas turbine apparatus and the electric motor selectively coupled to the first drive shaft via a first clutch apparatus; and

generating propulsion using the drive unit.

2. An aircraft having a drive device, the drive device comprising:

a drive unit;

a gas turbine apparatus for generating a first drive energy, the gas turbine apparatus having a gas turbine shaft selectively coupled to the drive unit;

an electric motor for generating a second drive energy;

a first clutch apparatus;

a water injection apparatus;

a fuel-cell system; and

a condenser;

wherein the electric motor is configured to be selectively coupled to the gas turbine shaft via the first clutch apparatus,

wherein the gas turbine apparatus and the electric motor are adapted for providing the drive unit with at least one of the first drive energy and the second drive energy;

wherein the drive unit is adapted for generating propulsion using at least one of the first drive energy and the second drive energy;

wherein the fuel-cell system is adapted for generating injection water and electrical energy by using a hydrogen-containing fuel and an oxidant;

wherein the fuel-cell system is adapted for providing electrical energy to the electric motor;

wherein the fuel-cell is adapted for providing the injection water to the condenser;

wherein the gas turbine apparatus comprises a combustion chamber with a combustion process; and

wherein the water injection apparatus is adapted for injecting injection water, provided by the fuel-cell system to the condenser, into the combustion process.

3. The aircraft of claim 2,

wherein the injection water is provided from one of a separate tank and from industrial water.

4. The aircraft of claim 2,

wherein the hydrogen-containing fuel is selected from the group consisting of pure hydrogen and hydrogen-containing reformate gas.

5. The aircraft of claim 2,

wherein the oxidant is selected from the group consisting of cabin air, outside air, and pure oxygen.

6. The aircraft of claim 2,

wherein the fuel-cell system is selected from the group consisting of high-temperature fuel cells, moderate-temperature fuel cells, and low-temperature fuel cells.