Development of a framework for the thermal modeling of an eVTOL

The vision of eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles) aims to transport individuals autonomously in urban areas using electrically powered aircraft. The efficiency, and thus the operational range of these aircraft, is crucial for market introduction. However, battery capacity is limited, necessitating effective thermal management for power electronics, drive components, and cabin climatization. This project focuses on optimizing the thermal management of the overall architecture of an eVTOL to enhance efficiency and performance. The developed framework for thermal modeling enables simulation-based design studies and provides the basis for future optimization tasks. The modeling structure considers components as well as the overall thermal system of an eVTOL. This framework includes detailed models of the cabin, cockpit, avionics bays, and battery zones, analyzing their specific thermal properties and interactions with one another. Various cooling strategies, including air and liquid circuits, are evaluated to meet the requirements for both indoor air quality and system components. These findings indicate that increasing ventilation mass flows can significantly enhance thermal passenger comfort, thus meeting comfort requirements. Energy consumption analysis shows that compressor efficiency is critical for overall system performance. The parametric study further shows that compressor efficiency and bypass control have the strongest influence on total energy demand. In the best-case configuration, the thermal management energy consumption can be reduced by 95% compared to the reference case. This research highlights the necessity for an integrated thermal management approach in eVTOL design, paving the way for future experimental validation and optimization efforts.