FLYING with electricity

[zzoing]

If you had one of those paraglider things with a motor on the back and used the latest battery technology, what would be the weight ratio and performance relative to petrol?

say that you can supply 1000 W for one hour with 20 kg, that's probably enough to get you up to 500 m and keep you there for half an hour...?

Seeing as I am presently unable to build a Zeppelin, it is my current dream flying machine.

[zzoing]

Sorry 20 kg of lithium is about 2 hours...40ah/20a @ 48v= 1.56minutes... say you need 2000 W to fly with- that would be one hour of ascending!

[zzoing]

already done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3pgGDQIgjM

[disadvantage]

Here's a group that has made a full-size battery-powered electric airplane:
http://aeroconversions.com/E-Flight/
News article on the same:
http://www.airventure.org/2007/4wed25/sonex.html

SonexE-FlightAirplane.jpg

Sonex electric airplane by E-Flight Team

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A lightweight self-launching electric glider may be more practical, as you could fly on thermal power most of the time:
http://www.alisport.com/eu/eng/silent_b.htm

disadvantage

[fechter]

Nice motor! That looks like it would do well on a motorcycle

[Lock]

See also earlier thread:
"You guys worry too much"
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2925&p=41632
tks
LoC

[Lock]

BUMP

Well, a year or so down the road and thought I just would update this thread a bit...

Guess most here are more terrestrial but there might be something here for you too:

AirPowerAssist.jpg

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Might be of use to anyone interested in elephant-assist also:

elephant.jpg

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Anywhooo... Yuneec International Ltd. is showing off what looks like a production-ready product, their E-Pac:
http://yuneeccouk.site.securepod.com/paramotor.html

E-Pac.bmp (206.77 KiB) Viewed 6755 times

...but no specs on their site plus none of the (gas) paramotor dealers online appear to be selling the E-Pac yet...

There is an interesting video review of Yuneec's pre-production(?) model here:
http://www.ulmfrance.tv/Yuneec-E-Pac-premier-paramoteur-electrique-commercialise.html

The vid starts of with an interview with Yuneecs GM in English language but most of the vid is French language... Some of the talk seems to provide specs and if any French-speaking denisons of the Sphere would translate and post here this would be greatly appreciated! Nice to see they made the battery packs swapable easily (looks like)
tks
Lock

[Lock]

Incidently, AERO Friedrichshafen 2009 is happening right now (April 2nd-5th)
http://aero-friedrichshafen.de/html/en/index.php

At the show for the first time there is a new section for electric flight, the e-flight expo:
http://www.e-flight-expo.com/en/home.html

The list of exhibitors is interesting:
http://www.e-flight-expo.com/en/exhibitor-list.html

From the News page on the e-flight expo site:
Highlights of the e-flight-expo
Three hydrogen fuel cell airplanes will be exhibited on the AERO with the French ultralight fuel cell trike flying during the daily air shows. This hydrogen trike made by Helite is a world première: the light weight manned aircraft is solely powered by a fuel cell without battery support.High efficient electric engines
The brushless electric engines of the German Engineer Dr. Werner Eck have become market leaders. They are used world wide in manned electric aircraft from light sport fixed wings, motorgliders to paraplanes and powered hanggliders.Sunseeker is a solar powered motor glider designed and built by Eric Raymond, USA. So far the Californian pilot has accumulatd more than 500 hours on solar-flight. Above the clouds Sunseeker produces enough electric power for straight and level flight while recharging the batteries fort he next take-off.Green Village Airfield: A concept by Calin Gologan, Germany, to realize the zero emission flight with an electric light sport aircraft powered by electricity ecologically generated on the air field.Hybrid-Power aircraft. A renowned German Company has patented the world’s first Hybrid-Propulsion for prop driven aircraft. 50 HP electrical power can temporarily be added to the 120 HP of the reciprocal engine when needed for take-off and climb. Interesting detail: The electric engine serves as generator.

Tks
Lock

[Lock]

[Lock]

http://www.electricppg.com/Developments/werner_eck/e-lift_paramotor.htm

The new electric drive system is available for hang gliders or paragliders. Motor, controller, battery, propeller and drive management system of both drives are identical. Thrust is greater for the PPG version since speeds are slower.

For those interested in the hang glider implementation, a harness similar to the Mosquito has been designed by Toni Roth (a.roth@t-online.de).

For the powered paraglider version, listed below, contact Werner Eck (werner.eck@gmx.org) or Jochen Geiger. They are negotiating with well known international paraglider companies for preparing and marketing a production version of the ePPG.

Note that ElectricPPG.com does not sell gear, we merely report on it. What you see here is all we know. Also, the drive system is not being sold to individuals. Contact your favorite airframer to encourage adoption.

Electric Motor: PPSM - Brushless High Power Direct 10, without gearing, free of maintenance, developed by Dr. Ing. Werner Eck.

Controller: Motor Management System and Batterie Management system, developed by Geiger Engineering.

Battery: 14 cells Lithium Ion Polymer, 31Ah, fast chargeable.

Propeller: Low Noise, high efficiency, 1.4 meter (55 inches) folded model developed by Dr. Ing. W. Eck. It spins at 1900 RPM.

Thrust: Static Thrust with "StartBoost" 61.5 kp (135 lbf), continuous 52.4 kp (116 lbf). Flight Thrust at 40 km/h (24.9 mph) 33.5 kp (73.8 lbf).

Weight: 21 kg (61.7 lbs) including battery, motor and harness. HG version weighs 28 kg.

Endurance: 30 minutes in still air with standard paraglider wing.

WernerEckElectricSystem_2008.jpg (19.67 KiB) Viewed 6672 times

[Lock]

http://www.electraflyer.com/index.html

Motor: Low RPM, high torque unit. 26 pounds, 18HP 90% efficient at cruise.
Max Thrust: Direct Drive - 53" Prop, 140 lbs, with reduction drive 1800RPM, 63" Prop 155 lbs
Battery Packs: Custom built lithium-ion polymer for highest capacity per weight (power density) High discharge rate cells for full power takeoff and climb. Choose 2.6kwh to 5.6kwh capacity depending on your use.

BATTERY PACKAGES: select one US$
1. Small lithium-polymer pack 2.75kwh 4400.00
2. Medium lithium-polymer pack 3.3kwh 5200.00
3. Large lithium-polymer pack 5.6kwh 8500.00

BATTERY CHARGER: custom high power with lithium ion charge curve-auto shutoff 895.00
ELECTRAFLYER PROPULSION PARTS KIT Includes: motor, electronic controller, power dial and switch, fuse, connectors, ammeter and shunt, voltmeter, custom machined propeller hub, and digital motor temperature display with probe. 4200.00

Electraflyer_2008a.jpg (61.57 KiB) Viewed 6670 times

First test flights video here:


tks
Lock

[Lock]

http://www.helix-propeller.de/en/
Helix makes props primarily but they have been dabbling in electrics for a while now.

No recent news from Helix but some old bits:
electric paramotor infos
02.03.07:
First flight with Proton 1.1
On 23.02.2007 Richard Krüger-Sprengel does his first flight with the actual stage of electric paramotor Proton 1.1. This version of paramotor has a smaller propeller. The diameter was minimized on 1,40m.

The flight was accomplished at bad weather conditions (wind of 30 km/h).

Short facts:
Measured data on ground before flight full load:
Battery voltage: 44V
Discharge current: 176 A / 7,744 kw
Propeller: 2450 rpm
Measurement of H25F 1,40m R-S-05-2 torque 29,1 Nm / static thrust 49,4 kp
Pilots weight with harness, helmet, recovery, clothing: 95,6 kg
Engine weight: 31,9 kg
Wing: Silex M
Flight time: 11:37 minutes



19.12.2006:
Helix exposes prototype of electric paramotor on Coupe Icare in Saint Hilaire:
In the context of the exhibition on Coupe Icare Helix shows his Prototye of electric paramotor. Richard Krüger-Sprengel the developer of the
prototype has shown that electric paragliding is possible and will be the future. The greate feedback and resonace on the prototype stengthen
Krüger-Sprengel in his opininon. He is in close contact to several developer teams who are working on electric paramotors.
Richard Krüger-Sprengel is going to install a yearly meeting for electric paramotors, to have a platform for exchange of ideas and to
show inovations. For 2007 it is planned to imply that meeting into the german paramotor championship in Krahwinkel (15.-20.05.2007) to show the
state of the art to a wide audience.

Prototype Electric-Paramotor from Helix-Carbon GmbH
Thrust : - 55 kp
Overall weight: - 31,6 kg
Noise level: - 30% less compared to conventional combustion
engines (60db/A > ca. 53 db/A)
Airtime: - 15 min and more / still in test
Electric motor
Motor: - LEM 200 / Fa. Lemco
- brushes – disc / 5,5 kg
direct current
10 KW at 2.200 rpm
50 Volt at 200 Ampere

Controller: - Fa. Brusa
48 V / 500 A / 1,7 kg

Batterie:
- 14 accumulator Saft 35 Ah
Connected in series 14 x 3,6 V = 50,4 V
Lithium-Ion-Technologie
weight 15 kg
time to charge: 20 min to 2 hours

suspension rack:
- System Fresh-Breeze / modified

Propeller:
- HELIX H25F 1,80m R-LS-04-2
diameter 1,80 m
two part
spezial propeller optimized for optimal turnment

[Lock]

http://www.techno-fly.com/en_index.php

Techno-Fly doesn't have any electrics yet on their web site, but here they are playing with batteries in 2008:


Brief description on the YouTube vid:
First test flight of E-Ventor made by TechnoFly. Only few minutes flight because of bad weather conditions. 10kW engine produced by KOMEL. Electronics by Impact Automotive. 98kg pilot.Next tests in progress.

tks
Lock

[Lock]

http://www.e-motors.electravia.fr/

Electravia are into electrics (boats too)

...even promoting their props designed for (slower speed) electrics:
http://www.e-props.electravia.fr/ENG/ENGindex.html

They are selling their ElectroTrike:

ElectroTrike_2009.jpg (67.99 KiB) Viewed 6648 times

- ELECTRICAL MOTOR
GMPE 102 electrical motor's power characteristics :
- peak : 19 kW (26 hp)
- 10 mn : 15 kW (20 hp)
- continuous : 10 kW (13,5 hp)
Efficiency : 93%
TBO : more than 30.000 hours
Maintenance : change brushes every 1.000 hours
Speed : between 2.400 and 3.000 RPM
Weight : 11 kg

Electravia.jpg

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They are using KOKAM packs:
3 - LITHIUM - POLYMER BATTERIES
ELECTRAVIA is using two types of industrial Lithium-Polymer batteries on its aircraft : "high energy" "and "high power" :
* "High energy" cells :
- Nominal Voltage: 3,7V
- Max Voltage: 4,2V
- Energy density= 170 Wh/kg
- Capacity = 40 Ah
- Charge on 1C max
- Discharge on 1C continous (3C peak)

* "High power"cells :
- Nominal Voltage: 3,7V
- Max Voltage: 4,2V
- Energy density= 130 Wh/kg
- Capacity = 40 Ah
- Charge on 3C max
- Discharge on 5C continous (10C peak)

ELECTRAVIA has developped its own BMS (Battery Management System) and PCM (Protection Circuit Module) for its special aeronautical use.
One pack of 20 KOKAM cells delivers 3 kwh. Its weight is 23,5 kg.
-> ElectroTrike is flying with this pack (endurance : 30 to 45 mn). Motorglider ALATUS-ME too (endurance : more than one hour in calm weather).
On pack of 40 KOKAM cells delivers 6 kWh. Its weight is 47 kg.
-> Electra is flying with this pack (endurance : 50 mn).


tks
Lock

[Lock]

http://www.youtube.com/user/pierrerenault

I have no idea who Pierre is but he's obviously having some e-fun here...

[Lock]

http://www.a-i-r.de/eng/air_02e.php?kat=118&par=0&gp=2

Earlier I quoted:
"For those interested in the hang glider implementation, a harness similar to the Mosquito has been designed by Toni Roth (a.roth@t-online.de)"

...that'd be A.I.R.'s machine:

AIR_Electric_Mosquito_2009.jpg (42.26 KiB) Viewed 1648 times

tks
Lock

[pwbset]

It's kind of a catch-22. Powered paragliders like longer run times (or should) because typically (if they have good judgement) they will fly in the mornings/evenings in much calmer air because they have so much more weight to deal with and frankly don't need any lifting air because they have a motor. Electric is cool, but to make the shorter runtimes more worthwhile you'd really want to shoot up as high as you can and hope to hook some thermals to stay up. Problem there is that then you're flying mid-day conditions and are much more likely to have an "incident" in the more turbulent air. I sure wouldn't want to deal with a huge asymmetric with 60-80lbs strapped to my back. Personally I'd rather just use gas and cruise around in smoother air for a couple hours or else lose any motor all together and huck off a mountain and rock around in thermals all afternoon like a regular paraglider. Or ridge soar. Etc. Just my opinion.

Then again I guess it's like running a ultracap ebike like JCG... why the hell not.

[Lock]

Tks for the "comeback" pwbset...
`Thought at least some ES ppl (see threads on RC motors) might be interested in the motor tech (eg Dr.Eck's direct drive at 1900RPM)... I think I have said here before too that my only real interest in the ePPG folks is related to having twin e-props on the water, a little like a Florida airboat.

Video of Crosstrek pedal boat here for example:
http://snorlax.lampi.org/mike/Boating2001/crosstrek.asf

But yah, the powered hang gliders and paragliders I find kinda fascinating! Like being on the water, the only really dangerous bits are the hard parts around the edges <hehe>

Lots of "amusing" vids of (non-powered) paragliding gone wrong:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=paragliding+crashes&aq=3&oq=paragliding+

Not interested in jumping off mountains myself but if electrics could "get me up there" then be jettisoned under their own parachute to cut the weight? I don't know...

I see the para folks use diff. (sized?) shutes for diff. weights, so could not a larger `shute compensate for the added weight of the batts versus gas tank?

`Guess my biggest disappointment with the e-props so far is the noise... quieter than the gas machines, but still... My guess is that most are still working with gas components and mindset (like the props and RPMs) while Russell Randall and his Crosstrek are pretty much "noise-free" (yah, at very low speed.)
tks
Lock

[Lock]

Hehe... Re "airboats" see also Decavitator vid:
http://lancet.mit.edu/decavitator/video/recordRun.better.mpg

[Lock]

Oh yah, and Gossamer Condors of course:

[Puppyjump]

This battery would work, 10 times more capacity than existing Lithium batteries:

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/january9/nanowire-010908.html

The funding for this project, though, is from Saudi Arabia. Will we ever see this battery before they are done selling all their oil?

[Zoot Katz]

deleted

[pwbset]

so could not a larger `shute compensate for the added weight of the batts versus gas tank?

To a certain degree sure, but having a higher winger loading on a paraglider reduces the chances of having collapses so being light on a bigger wing has distinct disadvantages as well. A lot of pilots that fly mid-day thermic mountain sites will be at the top weight range if not a bit over so the wing is more pressurized and resistant to the turbulent air... that's what I used to do anyway.

[etard]

Thanks for all the links Lock, I will spend a few hours searching through all that. What we need to build is something of a hybrid combining human power and electric for range and exercise. Can you imagine if you could commute to work in an airplane that costs less than a $1 to fill up, sign me up.

[Lock]

Thanks for all the links Lock, I will spend a few hours searching through all that.

Yer welcome! One more, from here:
http://www.paramotormag.com/news/2009/04/1024/

"The PAP 1400 E is the first electric paramotor to be DMSV (German paramotor association) tested and approved.
The motor uses a brushless external rotor HPDirect 10 motor, developed by Germany’s Dr. Eck, and delivers 10.5 kW power and 55 kg thrust. It is compatible with the PAP Charriot Z Trike.
The unit will be on show at the Aero Friedrichshafen, International Trade Exhibition for General Aviation, in Germany from 2 - 5 April. www.aero-friedrichshafen.de"

Pap-1400e_2009.jpg (103.29 KiB) Viewed 1559 times

What we need to build is something of a hybrid combining human power and electric for range and exercise. Can you imagine if you could commute to work in an airplane that costs less than a $1 to fill up, sign me up.

Yer talking "steroids" I am afraid <grin> Humans that put out 10.5kWs... Might have to settle with charging the packs from a pedalled generator
Too lazy to do the math but I'm pretty sure you'd have to pedal for a few days just to get to work once... ("gossamer" contraptions aside)
Tks
Lock