A four-meter prototype of a hybrid power plant with an embedded capacity of 500 kW is being showcased these days at the International Industrial Exhibition "Innoprom" in Yekaterinburg. The family of promising hybrid and electric power plants with an open architecture is a development of UEC (part of Rostec Group).
The line of hybrid power plants (HPP) and electric power plants (EPP) for future aircraft is designed like a puzzle. It includes electric motor installations, power units, and rechargeable batteries, from which it will be possible to assemble any power plants with a capacity of up to 1.5 MW. They can be installed on transport drones, heavy drones and convertiplanes, air taxis, and aircraft with vertical and super-short takeoff and landing.
The basis of all these developments is the HPP with an embedded capacity of 500 kW, created by JSC "UEC-Klimov" based on the new aircraft engine VK-650V. The HPP includes gas turbine and electric engines, an electric generator, rechargeable batteries, and power electronics. Two types of engines will provide higher fuel efficiency than classic power plants. According to the developers' calculations, the engine life as part of the HPP can be increased by another 20-30% due to the optimal operating mode.
This development has a great future. Bench tests have already confirmed the reliable joint operation of all systems and components of the HPP demonstrator. We only have to complete all the tests and move on to the next stage. Since the certification of hybrid power plants is a new phenomenon for Russia, our specialists are preparing a certification basis, which we will discuss with the expert community.
Today, the first HPP, which is being shown in Yekaterinburg, is undergoing comprehensive bench tests. Its serial production is expected to begin within a few years.
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