NASA Pioneers Hybrid-Electric Jet Engine Core for Sustainable Airliners
NASA is at the forefront of designing a revolutionary jet engine core that could power the first hybrid-electric airliners, aiming to significantly reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. This innovative project, known as the Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC), focuses on developing the smallest core ever for a hybrid-electric turbofan jet engine, anticipated to cut fuel usage by 10%.
The HyTEC initiative is part of NASA’s broader effort to collaborate with the private sector, including GE Aerospace, to make aviation more sustainable. This project falls under NASA’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership and seeks to prepare this technology for next-generation airliner engines by the 2030s.
The core of a jet engine, which combines compressed air with fuel to generate power, will be notably smaller in the HyTEC design. This reduction in size is key to achieving higher fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The project recently advanced to Phase 2, where NASA and its partners will design, build, and test this compact core, culminating in a core demonstration test.
Antony Nerone, the HyTEC project lead, highlighted the project’s steady progress, “We’ve been laser-focused since day one, maintaining our technical goals and success metrics without deviation.”
The smaller core will operate under higher heat and pressure than current jet engines, necessitating the development of more durable materials to withstand these conditions. This phase involves integrating multiple technologies to create a new type of engine, which has never been done before.
The planned engine will not only be smaller but also capable of operating with a higher bypass ratio. This means more air will bypass the engine core and flow around it, further enhancing fuel efficiency. This setup is designed to be compatible with sustainable aviation fuels, which are crucial for reducing the aviation industry’s environmental impact.
Kathleen Mondino from GE Aerospace emphasized the significance of the HyTEC program, noting, “HyTEC is an integral part of our RISE program, which continues a long history of collaboration between GE Aerospace and NASA to advance cutting-edge aviation technologies.”
In addition to its smaller size and higher efficiency, the engine’s core will be supplemented with electrical power, marking a significant step towards the hybridization of airliner engines. This hybrid-electric approach is expected to further decrease carbon emissions, moving closer to the vision of sustainable commercial flight.
Antony Nerone expressed optimism about the project’s impact, stating, “HyTEC aims to develop the first mild hybrid-electric engine, and hopefully, the first production engine for airliners that is hybrid-electric, marking a major milestone in aviation technology.”
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, interestingengineering.com