PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - The future of the helicopter is electric.
Old 23rd May 2004, 06:22
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calfoote
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Benet,

I saw your posting for the first time last night. I am in the camp that say that present battery technology is what limits your idea from being applied.

I did have a look on the net to see what the performance figures for rechargeable batteries were. Some recent research anticipates an energy density of about 1000Kj/Kg (a very rough guide).

Suppose an R22 needs 90 hp (or 67 Kw) of power to cruise and supposing these batteries weigh what a full load of fuel would weigh in an R22: 81 Kg. Then you have on board 81000 Kj of energy which your motor would use at a rate of 67 Kj per second. You have power to cruise for 81000/67=1209 seconds or just over 20 minutes.

A seven or eightfold increase in battery energy density is needed before the idea becomes practical, I would guess.
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