Twister hybrid - More details

Here are some more details regarding the Turbine GenSets currently on offer.

If anyone knows of any others please let me know in the comments section below.

First up the MiTRE from Delta Motorsports.

Their latest model has an output of 35kW with a weight of approx 50kg.

It is quite a compact unit as you will see from the below pics.

I would need double this output and if anything have a slight reduction in weight. Bear in mind that some of that 50kg is for emissions reduction for the car industry which is not necessary in experimental aviation, so with that equipment removed the weight should go down. Also more exotic materials can be used to reduce weight further, although that will drive the cost up.

The battery pack is a 'moveable ballast' so if needs be It could be relocated to another area of the airframe - perhaps under the safety cell or even split in two with part of it in the baggage area (as Pipistrel do with their electric model to retain the correct C of G).

The other turbine Generator on offer is the TurboTech from France.

Unlike the Delta MiTRE this unit is specifically designed for aviation.

They are quoting an output of 55kW with a weight of 50kg.

With 40kg of fuel (54 litres) on board this unit has the equivalent energy of 1000kg of Lithium-Ion batteries!

The size of the Turbotech unit means it will be a squeeze to fit it under the Twister cowling and to include the electric propulsion motor. So the battery pack and inverter would almost certainly have to be moved elsewhere in the airframe to make room for it.

From their Linkedin picture it seems like Turbotech are using a very similar idea (but in reverse) to the pre-cooler on the Sabre (single stage to orbit space engine). I believe the Sabre pre-cooler is made from micron-thin-walled Inconel.

More about the Sabre here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/07/reaction-engines-moves-ahead-with-single-stage-to-orbit-sabre-demo-engine/

More about TurboTech here: http://www.turbotech-aero.com/?fbclid=IwAR2kLao83yb5ovUMFwGU_J3TA7bUEO9GZ0dzjbfPv8xoika1y50Bptv7eqg

And finally a link to the Delta MiTRE which is a few years old so talks about 17kW rather than their latest 35kW version: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/09/delta-motorsport-introduces-micro-turbine-range-extender.html

Delta Motorsports MiTRE turbine genset.

Installed in the bottom of a car.

Compact size of the Delta MiTRE is clear from this video screenshot.

Turbotechs offering. Larger in size than the MiTRE but getting close to the figures I need for the Twister. They are quoting 15 litres per hour in the cruise - same as my current fuel consumption.

Turbotech's recuperator design seems very similar to the Sabre Hybrid rocket engine.