Propulsion and On-Board System Integration for Advanced Regional Jet with Different Level of Electrification in the AGILE project

The integration of propulsion and on-board systems design into the AGILE project’s collaborative MDO framework is presented in the paper, with the aim of investigating the effects on engine performance due to aircraft systems. Innovative on-board system architectures are characterized by the removal of hydraulic and/or pneumatic systems and consequent increase of the electric power demand, with significant impacts on both the aircraft empty weight and the engine fuel consumption. Four on-board system architectures are identified and investigated: one conventional, two More Electric and one All Electric. Impacts on Specific Fuel Consumption in cruise condition are evaluated through an engine model, and impacts on mission range are derived. Moreover, three types of aircraft are investigated, i.e. regional, medium and long range jets. The obtained results demonstrate that innovative architectures entail significant benefits at aircraft level. The mission range might be extended up to 7.5% with the All Electric architecture. Moreover, significant benefits due to More/All Electric on-board system architectures are more evident for regional and medium range aircraft, although advantages are also present in case of design of long range jets.