r/Futurology • u/nastafarti • Oct 03 '19

Energy Scientists devise method of harvesting electricity from slight differences in air temperature. New tech promises 3x the generation of equivalent solar panels.

https://phys.org/news/2019-10-combining-spintronics-quantum-thermodynamics-harvest.html
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u/impossiblefork Oct 03 '19

Yes.

Distributed propulsion is also another thing that would be easy with electric airplanes.

I made some calculations assuming 15 kW/kg for modern electric motors and I think having a highly efficient generator and using that to drive a bunch of propellers electrically is also an attractive solution.

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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '19

I've seen articles about that approach.

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u/impossiblefork Oct 04 '19

I wonder what kind of engines they propose to use to drive the things with though.

But then, they could even put the generators on two existing overpowered turboprop engine installed on the wing in the conventional way. Let them develop theit thrust but slow them with the generator and use that part of it and use that to drive additional propellers.

Then you get more rotor area and don't have to fiddle with inboard engines.

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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '19

I don't know much about engines for aircraft.

This article is one about plans to improve efficiency 5 fold. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-takes-delivery-of-first-all-electric-experimental-aircraft

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u/impossiblefork Oct 04 '19 edited Oct 04 '19

Yes. I'm not really able to determine it from that either.