Pre-flight Mission Simulation Model for Estimating State-of-Energy (SoE) in Hybrid Aircraft

Abstract

Abstract Accurate estimation of state-of-energy (SoE) is crucial for energy management functions within the aircraft Flight Management System (FMS). In the context of hybridelectric aircraft, where multiple energy sources are available, estimating SoE becomes a complex challenge. To address this, a pre-flight mission simulation model has been developed and verified for hybrid-electric aircraft. This model serves two primary purposes: first, it aids in developing energy management related FMS functions for hybrid-electric aircraft; second, the simulation model acts as an aircraft performance model, which can be used for developing energy management strategies for hybrid-electric aircraft. The simulation model facilitates detailed mission planning, simulation of different atmospheric conditions, while the simulation model accounts for varying aircraft weight. The methodology for developing and verifying the simulation model is described, and simulation results for various aircraft missions are presented. Furthermore, Dynamic Programming (DP) based optimal energy management strategy is proposed. This algorithm generates the optimal mode-of-operation profile for a given flight mission, ensuring that the specified battery energy reserves remain intact while minimizing the fuel consumption. The performance of this algorithm is analyzed using the simulation model for various missions