PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - The future of the helicopter is electric.
Old 24th May 2004, 22:20
  #31 (permalink)  
NickLappos
 
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Good data, Benet, but bad math. That 180 lb motor you found is nice, but it is only 70 HP continuous power!

Also, no power plant on the planet has more than 50% efficiency (unless they repealed Carnot's cycle), most are around 35% or so. Some experimental plant models get 40% as do fuel cells.

The total system efficiency is the product of the 35% (power plant) x the 90% transmission x the 86% of the motor for a net 27%, about the same for a good gas powered piston engine. My Honda a few years ago was 24% efficient on the highway at 60mph!

And that does not include the massive battery system, nor the 350 lbs for the motor (2 x the 70 HP motor you found).

Still a long way off, and not closing, I think. But a good fact finding debate, nonetheless!
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