The Technology of Electrical Engine Used in Airplanes (Essay Sample)

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Introduction
The technological advancements in the field of clean technology have significantly influenced the advancement of the use of electric motors with the aim of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. This has in turn influenced significant advancements in the research on electric aircrafts, which entails the use of electric motors to run aircrafts rather than using internal combustion engines. The research on electrically powered model aircrafts dates back to the 1970s and to date most of the currently flying electric aircrafts are experimental demonstrations that include both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. In this regard, this paper seeks to address the technology of electrical engines that are used in airplanes (Pyper, 2014).
The technology of electrical engine used in airplanes
As aforementioned, the technology of electric engines used in airplanes entails the use of electric motors to run the planes while the electricity is derived from fuel cells, solar cells, ultra capacitors, power beams as well as batteries. At the initial stages of the development of the technology of using electric planes on aircraft, Ni-Cd batteries were used to power DC electric motors to run the planes. The use of batteries to provide the electricity for powering the electric motors proved insufficient leading the development of solar-powered electric aircrafts. The technology of solar-powered electric aircrafts entailed the use if a solar cell array mounted on the wings of the planes and batteries (EAA, Inc. 2008). This entailed the use of the solar cells to charge the batteries and in turn provide electricity for powering the electric engines. Further advancements on this technology saw the use of a small battery pack that was charged by solar cells and used for takeoff and the eventual ability of flying planes directly on solar power rather than using electric power stored on solar batteries.
Further advancements in the research on the technology of using electronic engines on airplanes led to the development of fuel cell-powered light airplanes. This technology entailed the use of fuel-cells to provide the electricity needed to power the electric engines. To date, research in the technology of using electric engines on aircraft has led to the development of electric aircrafts that run on solar power, fuel cells and batteries (Ackerman, 2014). The significant limitation impeding the advancement of this technology is the fact that these available sources of providing electricity for powering the electric engines provide minimal power that can run the planes for considerable lengths of time.
Conclusion
The existing technology on the use of electric engines on aircrafts encompasses the usage of solar power, fuel cell and batteries to provide electric power for powering the electric engines. Future proposals in the advancement of this technology entail the incorporation of radical propulsion system such as distributed propulsion technology or electro-thermal turbo-propulsion. The rationale behind this future advancement is the