One variation of a system for generating thrust at an aerial vehicle includes: a primary electric motor; a rotor coupled to the motor; an internal-combustion engine; a clutch interposed between the motor and an output shaft of the internal-combustion engine; an engine shroud defining a shroud inlet between the rotor and the internal-combustion engine, extending over the internal-combustion engine, and defining a shroud outlet opposite the rotor; a cooling fan coupled and configured to displace air through the engine shroud; and a local controller configured to receive a rotor speed command specifying a target rotor speed, adjust a throttle setpoint of the internal-combustion engine according to the target rotor speed and a state of charge of a battery in the aerial vehicle, and drive the primary electric motor to selectively output torque to the rotor and to regeneratively brake the rotor according to the target rotor speed.

An electric machine includes at least one stator having at least one individual-tooth winding carrier that has at least one spacer configured to space apart turns of an individual-tooth winding mounted on the individual-tooth winding carrier. A hybrid electric aircraft has an electric machine of this kind.

An aircraft includes an internal combustion engine and an electrical power system. The electrical power system includes a permanent magnet machine and an inverter coupled to the permanent magnet machine. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator and a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator.

The disclosure relates to an electrical power system for connecting an electrical machine to first and second DC networks operating at different voltages. In an embodiment, an electrical power system comprises: an electrical machine having first, second, third and fourth windings; first, second, third and fourth AC:DC power electronics converters each connected to receive an input AC supply from the respective first, second, third and fourth windings, each AC:DC power electronics converter having first and second DC output terminals connecting the AC:DC power electronics converters to first, second and third DC supply output terminals, wherein the first and second windings are arranged to provide an AC supply to the respective first and second AC:DC power electronics converters in quadrature to each other and the third and fourth windings are arranged to provide an AC supply to the respective third and fourth AC:DC power electronics converters in quadrature to each other.

A method of controlling a hybrid-electric aircraft powerplant includes running a first control loop for command of a thermal engine based on error between total response commanded for a hybrid-electric powerplant and total response from the hybrid-electric powerplant. A second control loop runs in parallel with the first control loop for commanding the thermal engine based on error between maximum thermal engine output and total response commanded. A third control loop runs in parallel with the first and second control loops for commanding engine/propeller speed, wherein the third control loop outputs a speed control enable or disable status. A fourth control loop runs in parallel with the first, second, and third control loops for commanding the electric motor with non-zero demand when the second control loop is above control to add response from the electric motor to response from the thermal engine to achieve the response commanded.

An aerospace hybrid powertrain system includes an engine, a power shaft, and an electric machine having the power shaft therein or passing therethrough. The aerospace hybrid powertrain system further includes a fan, impeller, or blower connected to the power shaft and configured to direct air toward components of at least one of the engine or the electric machine. The fan, impeller, or blower may further be configured to direct air toward cooling elements such as heat exchangers or finned heat sinks arranged to cool the components of at least one of the piston combustion engine or the electric machine.

Drive system for an aircraft, including: a propeller; electric motor; transmission system for transmitting positive torque from the motor to drive the propeller and negative torque from the propeller in windmill braking state to drive the motor; interface for inputting an input; first unit for controlling torque acting on the motor; second unit for detecting rotational speed of the motor; selection unit to select an active mode from propulsion mode and recovery mode, wherein the motor generates recovery energy in the recovery mode; and management system to control energy flow in an electrical system of the aircraft, the electrical system including the motor, is controlled according to the active mode; wherein the selection unit is configured to select the active mode according to the input, rotational speed, and predefined envelope, wherein the envelope indicates a maximum positive torque and minimum negative torque that depends on the rotational speed.

A turbine engine includes integrated electric machines in the compressor section and the turbine section to supplement power produced from fuel with electric power. The example compressor section includes a compressor electric motor that is coupled to a compressor generator. The example turbine section includes a turbine electric motor that is coupled to the geared architecture to supplement power driving the fan section. A turbine generator provides electric power to the turbine electric motor.

A turbine engine includes integrated electric machines in the compressor section and the turbine section to supplement power produced from fuel with electric power. The compressor section includes a compressor electric motor that is electrically coupled to a compressor generator. The example turbine section includes a turbine electric motor that is coupled to a geared architecture to supplement power driving the fan section. A turbine generator driven by a portion of the turbine section provides electric power to the turbine electric motor.

An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.