Next Steps in the Development of Resource-Efficient Aircraft Propulsion Systems and REGATRON is on Board!

For well over 100 years, combustion engines (piston and turbine engines) have dominated aviation unchallenged. Step by step, concepts are now emerging that combine the advantages of electric motors with innovative energy systems. The benefits: Significant savings in operating costs, an excellent environmental footprint, and a drastic reduction in noise around airports.

Driving the Future of Emission-free Aviation

REGATRON is proud to actively support a research project at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) called CELLSIUS! When it comes to replacing internal combustion engines, energy storage and management systems play a crucial role alongside electromechanical components such as motors and propellers. The simulation of such systems, their short- and long-term behaviour, and their general suitability for aircraft must first be tested “on solid ground.” This requires full bidirectional operation with high-performance DC power supplies.

The modular, programmable power supply units of the REGATRON G5 series are ideally suited for such applications. REGATRON provided the CELLSIUS project with a continuous power output of 108 kW (equivalent to 147 hp), capable of operating in both a 0–1000-volt and a 0–2000-volt voltage range with continuous currents of up to over 300 A.

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It is particularly noteworthy that the devices can operate fully bidirectionally. This makes it possible to draw also energy from a storage system under test (on-board battery or H2 fuel cell) and feed it back into the public grid with maximum efficiency! This also makes it very easy to perform ground tests such as charging behaviour, discharge characteristics, energy performance, temperature response, overload behaviour, internal resistance trends, and other critical measurements.

At a Glance

The CELLSIUS team is now able to:

Test and validate H2-fuel cell and Li-Ion batteries
Verifying DC drives and airborne drives/propeller units
Simulation and characterisation of Li-Ion batteries
Test of battery and H2-fuel cell systems under extreme conditions and overload situations
Battery cycle testing and evaluation
Perform high-quality electrochemical impedance spectroscopy EIS measurements

Application Overview

REGATRON’s advanced power supply solutions support a wide range of applications in research, development, and testing of modern energy systems. From validating next-generation propulsion technologies to analysing energy storage behaviour, our systems are designed to meet the highest demands in performance, flexibility, and efficiency. The following examples highlight key application areas relevant to the CELLSIUS project.