Turning this into a turboprop with a small turbine engine might be a
practical alternative. But, it's essential to demonstrate that the initial
concept is worth further develpment.
The speed reduction gearbox for a turboprop is a hefty piece of machinery.
The ones on the C-130 reduce the 13,000 RPM of the engine to 1,360 RPM for the
props. And then there's the matter of power control. A fixed pitch prop is
not workable as the throttle response is horribly slow. It is far more
practical to use a fixed speed variable pitch prop. Throttle response is
almost instataneous.
>
>>
>> They do now, but now that a workable design is in hand there's
>>no telling what they will evolve into. Batteries and motors will
>>become lighter.
>
>The weight-energy density of even our best batteries is abysmal compared
>to that of jet fuel.
>
>I could see these becoming practical with tiny jet engines, but not with
>batteries. I think it is more likely that tiny jet engines will be
>developed than chemical batteries that rival the energy density of
>hydrocarbons.
>
Chris
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro
- Hunter S. Thompson
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