The present disclosure provides air cooling systems and methods for propulsion systems (e.g., aviation or aerospace propulsion systems). More particularly, the present disclosure provides integrated air cooling systems and methods utilizing air cycle machine cooling for hybrid-electric aircraft or aerospace propulsion systems or the like. The present disclosure provides integrated air cycle machine cooling into the hybrid propulsion system (e.g., into the wing-mounted hybrid propulsion system). As such, the air cooling systems and methods of the present disclosure can minimize weight while improving electric motor/generator cooling.

Systems and methods for controlling flight via a parallel hybrid aircraft having an electric propulsion system and a combustion propulsion system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include: a combustion propulsion system including a combustion engine; an electric propulsion system including a motor and an electric power source, wherein the motor comprises a stator, a rotor coupled to the engine shaft, and support bearings between the rotor and the stator; a mechanical link coupled to the stator and the combustion engine, wherein the mechanical link substantially prevents movement of the stator in a rotational degree of freedom; and a propeller coupled to the engine shaft, wherein the rotor is coupled to the engine shaft between the propeller and the combustion engine.

The present disclosure provides air cooling systems and methods for propulsion systems (e.g., aviation or aerospace propulsion systems). More particularly, the present disclosure provides integrated air cooling systems and methods utilizing air cycle machine cooling for hybrid-electric aircraft or aerospace propulsion systems or the like. The present disclosure provides integrated air cycle machine cooling into the hybrid propulsion system (e.g., into the wing-mounted hybrid propulsion system). As such, the air cooling systems and methods of the present disclosure can minimize weight while improving electric motor/generator cooling.

An aircraft system is provided that includes a propulsor rotor, a geartrain, a thermal engine, a drivetrain and an electric machine. The geartrain includes a power output, a first power input and a second power input. The power output is coupled to the propulsor rotor. The thermal engine is configured to drive rotation of the propulsor rotor through the geartrain. The thermal engine is coupled to the first power input. The drivetrain includes a first driveshaft and a second driveshaft. The first driveshaft is coupled to and between the second power input and the second driveshaft. The second driveshaft is angularly offset from the first driveshaft. The electric machine is configured to drive rotation of the propulsor rotor through the drivetrain and the geartrain. The second driveshaft is coupled to and between the first driveshaft and the electric machine.

A hybrid electric propulsion system for an aircraft is provided that includes a thermal engine, an electric motor, a gearbox, an electric power storage unit, a propulsion unit, and a controller. The thermal engine has a main oil pump configured to be driven by the thermal engine. The gearbox is in communication with the thermal and electric motors. The propulsion unit includes a propeller having propeller blades, and a pitch change mechanism. The controller is in communication with the thermal and electric motors, the propulsion unit, and a memory storing instructions. The instructions when executed cause the controller to control the electric motor to operate using electrical power from the electric power storage unit to cause the main oil pump to actuate and produce a flow of engine oil to the pitch change mechanism for a period of time sufficient to feather the propeller blades.

A computer-implemented method for optimally operating a hybrid-electric propulsion system by control of equipment dynamics. Prior to start of a mission, an original energy management plan is generated which is calculated to minimize estimated life-cycle operating costs for the vehicle during the mission. During an initial portion of the mission, operations of first and second power sources, a power distribution system, and a propulsion system are controlled such that a power mixture is supplied to the propulsion system from the first and second power sources in accordance with the original energy management plan. During the initial portion of the mission, a modified energy management plan is generated which is calculated to minimize estimated life-cycle operating costs for the vehicle. During a subsequent portion of the mission, operations of the first and second power sources, power distribution system, and propulsion system are controlled such that a power mixture is supplied to the propulsion system from the first and second power sources in accordance with the modified energy management plan.

A hybrid gas turbine engine for use on an aircraft includes a motor/generator and gas turbine engine placed in parallel power communication with a rotating bladed component, such as an aircraft propeller, through a combining gear box. Power can be modulated with the propeller using the motor/generator. An aircraft having the aircraft propeller can also include several aircraft systems such as an air data computer, automatic flight control system (AFCS), a guidance and navigation system, a full authority digital engine controller/flight control computer (FADEC/FCC), and a fault detection and mitigation controller (FDMC). Data from each of these respective systems can be communicated over an aircraft data bus. In one form data from the AFCS and guidance and navigation system can be provided over the aircraft bus to the FDMC to modulate power to the propeller and in some forms act as a backup to the FADEC/FCC.

Methods and apparatus for distributing electric power from a power source of an aircraft to a plurality of electrical loads of the aircraft during a limited power availability condition are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: distributing electric power from the power source of the aircraft to the plurality of electrical loads; receiving one or more signals indicative of a demand for electric power by one or more of the plurality of electrical loads; and adjusting the power distribution to the plurality of electrical loads based on the demand for electric power by the one or more plurality of electrical loads. The power distribution is also adjusted to maintain an overall power consumption of the plurality of electrical loads at or below a threshold.

An assistance device for a free-turbine engine of an aircraft having at least two free-turbine engines, the device including an electrical starter machine for providing prolonged assistance to the gas generator of a first engine using energy produced by an electric generator machine driven by the second engine, the device further including at least one electricity storage member electrically connected to the electrical starter machine for providing a burst of assistance to the gas generator, wherein the electrical starter machine is powered by a first power converter enabling it to exchange energy with the storage member for providing the burst of assistance, and that transmits thereto the energy supplied by a second power converter for the prolonged assistance.

A system for determining and/or controlling motor thrust and engine thrust in a parallel hybrid aircraft. One or more sensors may be configured to monitor one or more flight parameters to generate sensor information. User input including one or more pilot estimates may be received. The sensor information may be obtained. A performance thrust ratio may be calculated based on the user input, the sensor information, an aerodynamic model, a propeller model, and a battery model. The performance thrust ratio may be used to control the motor thrust and engine thrust to improve utilization of electric energy throughout a flight. A first thrust setting for the motor and/or a second thrust setting for the engine may be determined based on the performance thrust ratio.