Propulsion Powertrain Simulator: Future turboelectric distributed-propulsion aircraft.

The NASA Glenn Research Center, in collaboration with the aerospace industry and academia, has begun the development of technology for a future hybrid wing-body electric airplane with a turboelectric distributed-propulsion (TeDP) system. It is essential to design a subscale system to emulate the TeDP power grid, which would enable rapid analysis and demonstration of the proof-of-concept of the TeDP electrical system. This article describes how small electrical machines with their controllers can mimic all the components in a TeDP powertrain.