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Yes. Or at least the concept/idea is being explored. From [1] "The hybrid version would generate electric power through a turbine within the plane. That power w

by Pick-A-Hill2019 6y ago

Yes. Or at least the concept/idea is being explored. From [1] "The hybrid version would generate electric power through a turbine within the plane. That power would be used to turn the fan blades of the single electric turbofan engine." [2] Uses a slightly different approach "The propeller is powered by an electric motor with 65 kilowatts of continuous output. The electricity is supplied through a generator by a small Wankel engine that consumes little fuel" [1]https://phys.org/news/2017-11-airbus-rolls-royce-siemens-hybrid-plane.html https://phys.org/news/2017-11-airbus-rolls-royce-siemens-hyb... [2] https://phys.org/news/2013-07-electric-hybrid-aircraft.html https://phys.org/news/2013-07-electric-hybrid-aircraft.html

jeffreyrogers 6y ago
The Wankel engine one is interesting. It seems the only way any of these make sense is with a new type of engine. Makes no sense to put a turbine in a plane just to run an electric motor, since it's more efficient to just use the turbine directly.
- Pick-A-Hill2019 6y ago
  Agreed re the concept of [1]. Since the link in [2] was from 2013 I was curious to see if there were any updated PR releases but couldn't find any. I did stumble across [3] which seems to be the successor which uses a 3 cylinder diesel engine as the power source [3] https://wiki2.org/en/Siemens-FlyEco_Magnus_eFusion https://wiki2.org/en/Siemens-FlyEco_Magnus_eFusion
- hinkley 6y ago
  My recollection is that the problem with Wankels is the emissions, which they are claiming this system still reduces. I wonder what a different engine option would do.
hinkley 6y ago
That Rolls Royce proposal seems to be based on the fact that airplanes draw power from the turbines and/or and auxiliary power unit. They're driving one of the fans off of power parasitized from the other turbines. Technically that's a hybrid, but I was thinking more of a self-contained unit.

jeffreyrogers 6y ago

The Wankel engine one is interesting. It seems the only way any of these make sense is with a new type of engine. Makes no sense to put a turbine in a plane just to run an electric motor, since it's more efficient to just use the turbine directly.

Pick-A-Hill2019 6y ago
Agreed re the concept of [1]. Since the link in [2] was from 2013 I was curious to see if there were any updated PR releases but couldn't find any. I did stumble across [3] which seems to be the successor which uses a 3 cylinder diesel engine as the power source [3] https://wiki2.org/en/Siemens-FlyEco_Magnus_eFusion https://wiki2.org/en/Siemens-FlyEco_Magnus_eFusion
hinkley 6y ago
My recollection is that the problem with Wankels is the emissions, which they are claiming this system still reduces. I wonder what a different engine option would do.

hinkley 6y ago

That Rolls Royce proposal seems to be based on the fact that airplanes draw power from the turbines and/or and auxiliary power unit. They're driving one of the fans off of power parasitized from the other turbines. Technically that's a hybrid, but I was thinking more of a self-contained unit.