Abstract

Transforming aviation to improve aircraft shapes, propulsion and efficiency has led to studies for future electric aircrafts that consume only half as much fuel. This project involves thermodynamics modeling and electric power system modeling for turbo-electric generations systems and battery systems for hybrid electric aircrafts. The fundamentals of a digital motor control driver were studied through the use of a fractional horsepower development kit. The investigations were supplemented with automated motor controller software that identifies, tunes and controls the motor, and exploits similarities and differences between all motors. A file was modified that stores all the parameters, such as inductance and resistance, and performs tests to ensure that the motor is operating smoothly and does not heat during the process. Pulse width modulation, testing flux frequency and other varied parameters resulted in consistent measurements of resistance and inductance values, making this software a robust tool for studying any motors.

Mentor

Kurt Kloesel

Lab site

NASA Armstrong (Formerly Dryden) Flight Research Center

Funding Acknowledgement

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program under Grant # 1418852. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The research was also made possible by the California State University STEM Teacher and Researcher Program, in partnership with Chevron (www.chevron.com), the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (www.marinesanctuary.org) and NASA.

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URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/477

 

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