Excess power generated by turbine engines that now goes to waste could be used to generate electricity, according to researchers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, in Cleveland. The electricity then could be used to generate additional thrust. “These hybrid systems use electric motors and generators that work together with turbine engines to distribute power throughout the aircraft, in order to reduce drag for a given amount of fuel burned,” says Amy Jankovsky, lead engineer for the project. The technology could help to increase fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent for large airplanes, NASA said.
Source: avwebNASA Researches Turboelectric Powerplants For Airplanes