United Engine Corporation will showcase a 500kW hybrid power unit demonstrator at the Technoprom 2023 International Forum. The project is based on future VK-650V engine for light helicopters.
The demonstrator contains the key functional components of the future product. It has been assembled by UEC-Klimov. All components – turbine generator, motors, power electronics units for electrical machines, battery and control system – ave been already manufactured and delivered by the Corporation to Saint Petersburg.
In future, vertical take-off fixed-wing aircraft may become one of the application platforms for the hybrid power unit. Two 500kW hybrid power units will be used to take off such aircraft with a weight of about 3 tons allowing to carry goods up to 500kg.
The hybrid power units will have a set of advantages over traditional gas turbine power units. The expected features include lower fuel consumption, environmental friendliness, higher flight safety due to two power sources instead of one, vertical takeoff, takeoff from short runways and improved maneuverability.
