Honeywell to debut hybrid-electric turbogenerator

A new hybrid-electric turbogenerator from Honeywell will debut at the HAI Heli-Expo in Atlanta next month to showcase the company’s growing role in the urban air mobility segment, highlighted by Honeywell advancements in electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems.

Honeywell’s prototype system combines the HTS900 engine with two compact, high-power density generators. Each generator provides 200kW, which combined is enough to power 40 average American homes running air conditioning at full blast. The system burns conventional or bio-derived jet fuel and can feed motors or high-capacity batteries.

“This redefines powered flight by providing electricity to spare in a safe, light package built for aviation,” said Bryan Wood, senior director of Honeywell’s hybrid-electric and electric propulsion programs. “As the urban air mobility segment grows, Honeywell is providing safe, reliable propulsion solutions as well as a host of other aviation technologies that are ready to install today on next-generation vehicles.”

Conventional aircraft use fuel-burning engines to mechanically turn rotors, propellers, or fans. But many new aircraft designs incorporate multiple electric motors, which can be tilted or turned off for vertical take-off and horizontal flight. Aircraft designers believe this could usher in a new era of quiet, efficient, point-to-point aviation. A single Honeywell turbogenerator could power multiple electric motors located anywhere on an aircraft.

Honeywell has rapidly expanded its presence in urban air mobility, offering avionics, propulsion, flight controls, navigation, collision avoidance, power generation, actuation, logistics, satellite communication, and connectivity technologies to companies developing new aircraft.

In January, the company announced its work with Pipistrel Vertical Solutions to develop systems for a vertical take-off and landing air vehicle that will eventually be capable of fully autonomous flight.

Honeywell already provides onboard power, with systems on airliners, business jets, and military and rotary aircraft worldwide.

The company’s solutions offer reliable electric current from 5kW to 200kW in constant speed, variable frequency, and direct current configurations. Honeywell is now testing the aerospace industry’s first 1MW generator.

The turbogenerator will be on display March 5-7 at Honeywell’s Booth C3107 during the show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.