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Energy-Efficient Advances in More Electric Aircraft
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Energy-Efficient Advances in More Electric Aircraft

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F: Electrical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2138

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Juana María Martínez-Heredia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electronic Engineering, Higher Technical School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: design of circuits for aircrafts and UAVs; DC/DC GaN converters for drones; low-voltage low-power analog circuit design; analog and mixed-signal designs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Francisco Colodro Ruiz

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Electronic Engineering, Higher Technical School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion; sigma–delta modulators; electronic circuits and systems with application to control, aeronautics, and communications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Energy-Efficient Advances in More Electric Aircraft” seeks to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the electrification trend within aircraft. As aviation transitions toward more electric aircraft (MEA), there is a growing emphasis on enhancing energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and optimizing overall performance. This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers, engineers, and practitioners to exchange information, share innovative solutions, and address critical issues related to the integration of electric propulsion systems, energy management strategies, and sustainable power sources into aircraft design and operation.

We invite you to submit your original work and review papers for publication in this Special Issue of Energies. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Electric propulsion systems: novel designs, optimization techniques, and performance analysis of electric propulsion systems, including electric motors, generators, and power electronics.
  • Energy management and distribution: development of advanced energy management strategies, power distribution architectures, and control algorithms to improve efficiency and reliability in more electric aircraft.
  • Energy storage and power sources: innovations in energy storage technologies (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors) and alternative power sources (e.g., fuel cells, solar energy) for aviation applications.
  • Wide-bandgap (WBG) power converters: advances in wide-bandgap semiconductor materials (e.g., SiC, GaN) and their application in power electronics for improving the efficiency, power density, and reliability of aircraft power conversion systems.
  • Advanced flight control actuators: lighter, more compact electric actuators; advanced servo-hydraulic, electro-hydrostatic, and electromechanical actuators.
  • Smart intelligent aircraft structures: development of structures capable of detecting their environment, self-diagnosing their status, and adapting to make aircraft more useful and efficient.
  • System integration and optimization: challenges and methodologies for integrating electric propulsion systems with other subsystems of aircrafts while considering weight, space, and performance constraints.
  • Environmental impact and sustainability: assessments of the environmental benefits, life cycle analysis, and sustainability implications of the adoption of more electric aircraft technologies.

Prof. Dr. Juana María Martínez-Heredia
Prof. Dr. Francisco Colodro Ruiz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • more electric aircraft
  • aircraft electrification
  • electric aircraft technologies
  • electric propulsion systems
  • energy management
  • power electronics
  • wide-bandgap semiconductors
  • energy storage
  • sustainable power sources
  • system integration
  • environmental impact
  • energy efficiency
  • aircraft power conversion
  • electric motors
  • power distribution
  • aviation sustainability

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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19 pages, 4730 KiB  
Article
Power Quality in the Context of Aircraft Operational Safety
by Tomasz Tokarski, Sławomir Michalak, Barbara Kaczmarek, Mariusz Zieja and Tomasz Polus
Energies 2025, 18(8), 1945; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18081945 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 218
Abstract
The article presents the use of ground power sources for aircraft ground support. Both military and civil aircraft (A/C) require high-performance and reliable Ground Power Units (GPUs) to ensure safe operation in diverse environmental conditions. The power quality provided by these GPUs plays [...] Read more.
The article presents the use of ground power sources for aircraft ground support. Both military and civil aircraft (A/C) require high-performance and reliable Ground Power Units (GPUs) to ensure safe operation in diverse environmental conditions. The power quality provided by these GPUs plays a crucial role in determining the reliability, cost efficiency and operational safety of the aircraft. The main objective of the article is to signal and propose a solution to the problems associated with the operation of GPUs in the Polish Armed Forces (PAF), resulting from the diversity of the equipment used (type, duration of operation, defects occurrence, etc.). Currently, the PAF utilize various types of GPUs to provide electrical power to aircraft while they are on the ground. Many of those devices have already been in service for many years. The presented statistics of defects registered in the airworthiness management system showed several dozen A/C failures or defects related to the operation of GPU. The authors highlight the importance and feasibility of diagnosing these ground-based power sources. The presented sample test results confirm that, following the methodology outlined in the article, it is possible to conduct comprehensive diagnostic assessment of the GPU systems currently in use by the PAF, as well as evaluate the quality of the electrical power they deliver in both steady and transient states. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Efficient Advances in More Electric Aircraft)
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26 pages, 5366 KiB  
Article
Concepts and Experiments on More Electric Aircraft Power Systems
by Andrzej Gębura, Andrzej Szelmanowski, Ilona Jacyna-Gołda, Paweł Gołda, Magdalena Kalbarczyk and Justyna Tomaszewska
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071653 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 445
Abstract
The evolution of aircraft power systems has been driven by increasing electrical demands and advancements in aviation technology. Background: This study provides a comprehensive review and experimental validation of on-board electrical network development, analyzing power management strategies in both conventional and modern aircraft, [...] Read more.
The evolution of aircraft power systems has been driven by increasing electrical demands and advancements in aviation technology. Background: This study provides a comprehensive review and experimental validation of on-board electrical network development, analyzing power management strategies in both conventional and modern aircraft, including the Mi-24 helicopter, F-22 multirole aircraft, and Boeing 787 passenger airplane. Methods: The research categorizes aircraft electrical systems into three historical phases: pre-1960s with 28.5 V DC networks, up to 2000 with three-phase AC networks (3 × 115 V/200 V, 400 Hz), and post-2000 with 270 V DC networks derived from AC generators via transformer–rectifier units. Beyond theoretical analysis, this work introduces experimental findings on hybrid-electric aircraft power solutions, particularly evaluating the performance of the Modular Power System for Aircraft (MPSZE). The More Electric Aircraft (MEA) concept is analyzed as a key innovation, with a focus on energy efficiency, frequency stability, and ground power applications. The study investigates the integration of alternative energy sources, including photovoltaic-assisted power supplies and fuel-cell-based auxiliary systems, assessing their feasibility for aircraft system checks, engine startups, field navigation, communications, and radar operations. Results: Experimental results demonstrate that hybrid energy storage systems, incorporating lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and photovoltaic modules, can enhance MEA efficiency and operational resilience under real-world conditions. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of MEA technology in the future of sustainable aviation power solutions, highlighting both global and Polish research contributions, particularly from the Air Force Institute of Technology (ITWL). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Efficient Advances in More Electric Aircraft)
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12 pages, 2756 KiB  
Article
Assessing SOC Estimations via Reverse-Time Kalman for Small Unmanned Aircraft
by Manuel R. Arahal, Alfredo Pérez Vega-Leal, Manuel G. Satué and Sergio Esteban
Energies 2024, 17(20), 5161; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17205161 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 802
Abstract
This paper presents a method to validate state of charge (SOC) estimations in batteries for their use in remotely manned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The SOC estimation must provide the mission control with a measure of the available range of the aircraft, which is [...] Read more.
This paper presents a method to validate state of charge (SOC) estimations in batteries for their use in remotely manned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The SOC estimation must provide the mission control with a measure of the available range of the aircraft, which is critical for extended missions such as search and rescue operations. However, the uncertainty about the initial state and depth of discharge during the mission makes the estimation challenging. In order to assess the estimation provided to mission control, an a posteriori re-estimation is performed. This allows for the assessment of estimation methods. A reverse-time Kalman estimator is proposed for this task. Accurate SOC estimations are crucial for optimizing the utilization of multiple UAVs in a collaborative manner, ensuring the efficient use of energy resources and maximizing mission success rates. Experimental results for LiFePO4 batteries are provided, showing the capabilities of the proposal for the assessment of online SOC estimators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Efficient Advances in More Electric Aircraft)
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