Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will jointly manufacture high-power, high-voltage turbogenerators from Honeywell, following an MoU between both firms.
R Madhavan, HAL’s former CMD, said the MoU was intended to allow both parties to jointly develop a business plan which outlines the market potential, investment, returns and partnership model. “Once the business plan’s viability is established, we will enter into contract arrangements. Going ahead, we hope to work with Honeywell to develop a number of new, India-specific applications,” he said.
Honeywell will provide its one-megawatt electric machine to be utilised as a generator that will enable a turbogenerator which can power hybrid-electric aircraft, including traditional airframes, unmanned aircraft and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles. The turbogenerator can provide power for multiple electric motors anywhere on an aircraft.
This generator can also efficiently run as a one-megawatt motor and seamlessly integrate with new and existing gas turbine engines to create highly power-dense turbogenerators.
Rajesh Rege, President, Honeywell India, said the MoU was in continuance with Honeywell’s commitment to delivering world-class, industry-leading technologies to India. 'We are delighted to partner with HAL once again. This MoU builds on a four-decade-long partnership with the country’s aeronautics leader and is an affirmation of our Make in India vision,' he said.
The Honeywell turbogenerator can run on aviation biofuel, including green jet fuel, conventional jet fuel, and diesel. It can be used to operate high-power electric motors and charge batteries and can satisfy missions from heavy-lift cargo drones to air taxis or commuter aircraft.
Traditionally, aircraft use fuel-burning engines to mechanically turn rotors, propellers or fans; however, many new designs now use a distributed electric propulsion architecture, in which many electric motors can be tilted or turned off for vertical take-off and horizontal flight.
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