Map-based Simulation Model for Energetic Assessment of Electric Propulsion Systems

The electric propulsion systems modeling is a necessary tool for the evaluation of performance and onboard energy source requirements in electrically propelled aircraft. This paper presents a map-based simulation approach for energetic assessment of electric propulsion units, suitable for general aviation applications. The energetic analysis of the propulsion system relies on multidimensional maps to include the nonlinearities of the components, and the system dynamics is simulated by means of numerical integration. Additionally, the proposed approach considers the effects of electric machine temperature variations through a first-order thermal model. The developed model has been numerically validated in a simulation environment using the specifications of a commercial general aviation fuel aircraft.