Silent Sentinel is a world first, a hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (H-UAV) using stored electric power, thin film solar photovoltaics (PV), and other technologies to enhance its endurance, quiet operations and low emissions.
Bye Aerospace Inc. (Denver, Colorado), teamed with thin film PV manufacturer Ascent Solar to develop UAV solar energy generation. For primary propulsion the hybrid UAV uses an advanced Williams International FJ33 turbofan, a small 300lb engine with around 1,800lbf (8,000N) static thrust.
As a pure guestimate, using this engine at these thrust levels, with a specific fuel consumption at 1,200lbf (5,300N) thrust of 0.486 lb/h/lbf, means that two hours of flying maybe uses 500lbs (228kgs) of aviation fuel (510kgs or 1122lbs of CO2 emissions) assuming some climb/descent and mostly cruise. This is still a significant CO2 emission, and about the same as a helicopter (like the Hughes 500D) but developing solar power for aircraft applications is a good idea, especially if it can be used for solely electric propulsion like the Sunseeker II for general aviation.
It obviously has potential military applications that include border patrol, search and rescue, visual and thermal reconnaissance, and forward air control. In addition, potential civil applications include traffic control, pipeline and power line inspection, aerial law enforcement, forest fire detection and aerial photography. Perhaps it can cover ground more quickly than a helicopter and therefore needs to be airborne for less time, thereby being more efficient.
The interesting part of Bye Energy is that it is a start-up with good intentions, George Bye, Founder and CEO of Bye Energy made the following statement in a recent press release “We see an unprecedented opportunity to meet two growing needs,” he said. “One is the need for a clean, renewable fuel source for aviation, and the other is for alternative-energy aircraft propulsion systems.”
The company is currently analyzing opportunities with jet fuel derived from plant-based feedstock to replace traditional petroleum sources on business jet aircraft. In addition, Bye Energy is developing an electric energy propulsion system for single- and twin-engine light aircraft, similar to the technology being applied to hybrid and all-electric automobiles.
Let’s hope they succeed in their eco-aims, even if it has to be leveraged off military developed technology which, unfortunately, is where much of today’s technology originates.
Visit: http://www.byeaerospace.com/
Via Ecofriend
Trevor Williams is a University of Victoria Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate specialising in renewable energy, power grid modelling and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He has a bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering, a Masters in Management Science and over 23 years international experience in the space industry, having worked on Earth observation and telecommunications satellites. He is the author of the Eco-Geek blog.
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