Design and Analysis of Energy Recovery Methods for Reduced Aircraft Emissions
Author:
Joshua Hauck ’26Co-Authors:
Faculty Mentor(s):
Greg O'Neill, Mechanical EngineeringFunding Source:
James L. D. and Rebecca Roser Research FundAbstract
Aircraft flights are becoming an increasingly popular mode of transportation. However, their harmful impacts on the environment are a growing concern. To combat this issue, many engineers have worked on developing fully electric aircraft. Although they are much more sustainable, they encounter severe limitations imposed by current battery technologies. One alternative route engineers have taken is the development of energy recovery methods (ERM). These methods reduce the fuel consumption of aircraft without significantly changing their structure and functionality, making them an excellent short-term solution. The goal of this research is to add to the existing pool of ERM and analyze their performance to identify the most successful methods. To do so, we generated CAD models of common aircraft, as well as the new and existing ERM, using SolidWorks. We then tested these models in SolidWorks Flow Simulation to determine the drag force they experience. Lastly, we used MATLAB and Excel to develop a mathematical model that utilizes principles of thermodynamics and kinematics to calculate fuel consumption during a typical flight pattern. So far, the results have shown that the ERM are ineffective; however, this finding is not final as the research is in progress.