霍尼韋爾（Honeywell）正在開發一種適用于混合動力飛機的1MW發電機，其功率比2019年開發的先前版本強大兩倍半，并將于今年晚些時候進行演示。

渦輪發電機是霍尼韋爾1兆瓦發電機和HGT1700輔助動力裝置的組合，目前已在每架空中客車A350 XWB上飛行。280磅（127千克）的 動力單元將能夠使用生物燃料，噴氣燃料和柴油運行，旨在為重型貨運無人機，空中出租車和通勤飛機中的大功率電動機或電池供電。

霍尼韋爾的1MW渦輪發電機已設計用于分布式電力推進系統（圖片：霍尼韋爾

霍尼韋爾表示，新的渦輪發電機系統的首次演示將在今年9月進行，隨后還將進行資格鑒定。

霍尼韋爾航空航天公司負責無人機系統和城市空中交通的副總裁兼總經理Stephane Fymat表示：“隨著城市空中交通部門的形成和無人機的投入使用，對電力和混合電力的內在需求。我們的渦輪發電機為這些新興市場提供安全，輕便的包裝，我們正在設計解決方案，以滿足開發未來飛機的客戶的獨特需求。”

霍尼韋爾認為渦輪發電機的發展是對飛機設計（例如eVTOL）中使用分布式電力推進技術的一種回應。在這樣的設計中，飛機周圍的多個電動機與風扇一起使用以進行起飛，然后關閉或傾斜以進行水平飛行。

霍尼韋爾航空航天公司動力系統業務發展高級總監泰勒·阿爾伯施塔特（Taylor Alberstadt）表示：“我們在制造輔助動力裝置和大型燃氣輪機方面無與倫比的遺產使我們能夠為未來的車輛創建動力系統。我們認為，航空業的未來將包括許多新型的推進系統和動力系統，我們準備在其發展中遙遙領先。”

去年12月，霍尼韋爾（Honeywell）與英國初創公司Faradair Aerospace簽署了一項諒解備忘錄，以合作開發系統和渦輪發電機組，該機組將使用可持續的航空燃料為Faradair的生物電混合飛機（BEHA）供電。Faradair計劃到2030年交付300輛混合動力BEHA，其中150輛將處于消防狀態。霍尼韋爾正在與其他數個潛在的渦輪發電機客戶進行深入討論，以根據各種制造商的任務要求幫助確定功率要求。

霍尼韋爾在2019年亞特蘭大舉行的HAI HELI-EXPO上推出了其首款用于城市空中機動性（UAM）的渦輪發電機。它結合了霍尼韋爾（中國）的HTS900渦輪軸發動機和兩臺200千瓦發電機。

Honeywell is developing a 1MW generator suitable for use in hybrid-electric aircraft that is two and a half times more powerful than the previous version developed in 2019 that will be demonstrated later this year.

The turbogenerator is a combination of a  Honeywell 1MW generator and HGT1700 auxiliary power unit, which is currently flown on every Airbus A350 XWB. The 280 lbs (127kg) power unit will be able to run on biofuel, jet fuel and diesel and is designed to provide power to high-power electric motors or batteries in heavy-lift cargo drones, air taxis and commuter aircraft.

Honeywell's 1MW Turbogenerator has been designed for use in distributed electric propulsion systems (image: Honeywell)

Honeywell said the first demonstration of the new turbogenerator system will occur by September this year, with qualification to follow.

Stephane Fymat, vice president and general manager for unmanned aerial systems and urban air mobility at Honeywell Aerospace said, “There is an inherent need for electric and hybrid-electric power as the urban air mobility segment takes shape and unmanned aerial vehicles enter service. Our turbogenerators provide a safe, lightweight package to serve these burgeoning segments, and we’re designing our solutions to meet the unique needs of customers developing aerial vehicles of the future.”

Honeywell sees the development of the turbogenerator as a response to the increased use of distributed electric propulsion in aircraft designs such as eVTOLs. In such designs multiple electric motors around an aircraft are used with fans for take-off and then either switched off or tilted for horizontal flight.

Taylor Alberstadt, senior director of Power Systems Business Development at Honeywell Aerospace said, “Our unrivaled legacy in the manufacturing of auxiliary power units and larger gas turbine engines gives us the ability to create power systems for future vehicles. We think the future of aviation will include many new types of propulsion and power systems, and we are prepared to lead the way in their development.”

In December, Honeywell signed a memorandum of understanding with British startup Faradair Aerospace to collaborate on systems and a turbogeneration unit that will run on sustainable aviation fuel to power Faradair’s Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA). Faradair intends to deliver 300 hybrid-electric BEHAs into service by 2030, of which 150 will be in a firefighting configuration. Honeywell is in advanced discussions with several other potential turbogenerator customers, working to help define power requirements based on mission profiles required by various manufacturers.

Honeywell unveiled its first turbogenerator for urban air mobility (UAM) at the 2019 HAI HELI-EXPO in Atlanta. It combined Honeywell’s HTS900 turboshaft engine with two 200-kilowatt generators.