Vaeridion, a Munich based aircraft manufacturer has successfully started an extensive functional test campaign of its Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU) demonstrator.
“VÆRIDION’s novel electric propulsion system powers a single nose-mounted propeller by redundant and isolated electric drives” according to the press release. “In accordance with current certification definitions, each independent drive is denoted as “electric engine”. In case of an engine failure, the remaining engine(s) continue to drive the propeller. This electric powerplant architecture is unique in fixed-wing aircraft to date.
“The test campaign validates the functional EPU behaviour for normal operation as well as engine failure conditions. Dedicated mission scenarios are run in a total of more than 150 test points. We are demonstrating that credible mechanical failures of an engine will not stop or interrupt propeller operation.
“The equipment under test comprises of two aviation qualified electric engines and their respective mechanical coupling as well as the single output shaft, while the propeller is simulated by a laboratory load machine. The setup is at reduced scale regarding the final aircraft level performance rating.
“Since November 2023, VÆRIDION and EASA have cooperated in a Pre-Application Contract to determine the preliminary certification basis of the Mircoliner. The innovative propulsion architecture has been the core focus of both teams.”
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(Image: Vaerdion)