Modelagem detalhada de conjunto elétrico, parte do motor híbrido-elétrico para um drone de asa fixa

Abstract

Considering the impact of aviation on the global environmental landscape, especially regarding pollutant emissions, the need for more efficient propulsion technologies with a lower environmental impact is evident. Aiming to contribute to this, there are many research fronts dedicated to replacing current propulsion systems. One promising technology that is part of these fronts is hybrid-electric propulsion (Roboam, 2023). Since hybrid powertrains are composed of several subsystems, the use of robust simulation tools is valuable for designing and sizing each component. In this context, a study was conducted in Rendón et al. (2024) of a hybrid-electric powertrain to be used in a Brazilian-made fixed-wing drone, named Atobá (Stella Tecnologia, 2022). Present work aims to size, model, and simulate the electro-electronic subsystem of such a powertrain. Due to the aircraft’s characteristics, a series topology was chosen for the hybrid assembly. The main electrical components were sized, and their values were adjusted using real market devices. The control laws for the loops involved were then tuned. The electrical system components were modeled in MATLAB®/Simulink®, and the designed control loops were tested. Simulations were then performed for various power conditions, from zero to the nominal power of each set, and the efficiencies of each component were obtained as a function of the power demand. From the steady-state numerical results, polynomial equations that describe these efficiency-power relationships were obtained. These results will later be used in the energy efficiency study of the complete hybrid system, following the AHEAD methodology (Rendón et al., 2025).