Assessment of an energy-efficient aircraft concept from a techno-economic perspective

Abstract

An increase in environmental awareness in both the aviation industry and the wider global setting has led to large bodies of research dedicated to developing more sustainable technology with a lower environmental impact and lower energy usage. The goal of reducing environmental impact has necessitated research into revolutionary new technologies that have the potential to be significantly more energy efficient than their predecessors. However, for innovative technologies in any industry, there is a risk that adoption will be prohibitively expensive for commercial application. It is therefore important to model the economic factors of the new technology or policy at an early stage of development. This research demonstrates the application of a Techno-economic Environmental Risk Assessment framework that may be used to identify the economic impact of an energy-efficient aircraft concept and the impact that environmental policy would have on the viability of the concept. The framework has been applied to a case study aircraft designed to achieve an energy saving of 60% in comparison to a baseline 2005 entry-into-service aircraft. The model compares the green aircraft concept to a baseline conventional aircraft using a sensitivity analysis of the aircraft direct operating cost to changes in acquisition and maintenance cost. The research illustrates an economically viable region for the technology. Cost margins are identified where the increase in operating cost due to expensive novel technology is counterbalanced by the reduction in cost resulting from low energy consumption. Viability was found to be closely linked to fuel price, with a low fuel price limiting the viability of energy-efficient aviation technology. In contrast, a change in environmental taxation policy was found to be beneficial, with the introduction of carbon taxation incentivising the use of an environmentally optimised aircraft.

Quantifying the Economic Benefits of Using Erosion Protective Coatings in a Low-Pressure Compressor (Aero-Engine): A Case Study Evaluation

“…However, commercial decisions are invariably based on economic considerations, with differences in operating costs a major factor in deciding whether to adopt a new technology. Historically, rising fuel costs-which typically are 40% of the operating costs of an aircraft-have pushed operators to press for improved energy efficiency from older, less efficient aircraft [34]. Of course, it is to be hoped that the advancement in green technology will assist in reducing costs.…”

Reducing design uncertainty through model-based collaborative design methods when introducing new technologies: A Solomon four-groups empirical design study

“…However, new technology introduction is often hampered by uncertainties regarding technology capabilities, and the way the new technology impacts the whole product development process (Stroud, 2002). Failing to assess new technology capabilities and its impact on the overall product development process (PDP) activities, can lead to the establishment of ill-de ned product design speci cations and, consequently, a nal product that fails to deliver the promised business bene ts (Stroud, 2002;Goldberg et al, 2018).…”

“…The successful assessment of a new technology introduction and the eventual establishment of design requirements for its implementation is often hampered by uncertainties (Mavris et al, 1999;Goldberg et al, 2018). These uncertainties are related to technology capabilities (what the technology is and is not capable of, such as what can or cannot be manufactured when introducing a new manufacturing technology), and the way the technology introduction impacts the whole product development process regarding its activities, resources and schedule (Porter, 1985;Stroud, 2002;Browning and Ramasesh, 2015).…”

“…As previous data is not always applicable to new design contexts, ill-de ned design speci cations can be established, leading to the development of products that do not ful ll their full potential (Kumke et al, 2016;Seepersad et al, 2017). Other, more serious consequences are the establishment of non-adequate project budget for contingencies (Raydugin, 2012) and the development of products that fail to deliver business bene ts (Mavris et al, 1999;Goldberg et al, 2018). they uncovered an UU, related to the di culty of removing the ow connector from the building platform; for this reason, an appropriate new design speci cation was established to address this di culty.…”

Solid Particle Erosion Behaviour and Protective Coatings for Gas Turbine Compressor Blades—A Review

“…Concerns regarding energy security will also grow as more energy resources are required. As a result, the performance criteria of modern machines and cycles must be ever more rigorously defined in terms of pushing components to the limit of their capabilities [1]. The gas turbine engine (GTEs) industry is a crucial contributor to the global economy and has seen continuous growth since its early years [2,3].…”