Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft Technology

Solar-powered aircraft has the advantages of prolonged high-altitude flight, operational flexibility, and zero carbon emissions, making it one of the emerging fields that the global aerospace industry prioritizes. This study investigates the current development status of solar-powered aircraft in Ch...

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Main Authors: Xianglei Liu, Xinmeng Yang, Ruixiong Hu, Yimin Xuan
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: 《中国工程科学》杂志社 2025-04-01
Series:中国工程科学
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.engineering.org.cn/sscae/EN/PDF/10.15302/J-SSCAE-2024.10.024
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author Xianglei Liu
Xinmeng Yang
Ruixiong Hu
Yimin Xuan
author_facet Xianglei Liu
Xinmeng Yang
Ruixiong Hu
Yimin Xuan
author_sort Xianglei Liu
collection DOAJ
description Solar-powered aircraft has the advantages of prolonged high-altitude flight, operational flexibility, and zero carbon emissions, making it one of the emerging fields that the global aerospace industry prioritizes. This study investigates the current development status of solar-powered aircraft in China and abroad and summarizes the development trends of its key technologies, including advanced aerodynamic design, efficient and low-cost solar cells, high-energy-density batteries, and efficient and wide-operating-condition propulsion. Based on the energy balance and mass balance principles, this study establishes an overall performance simulation model for solar-powered aircraft, predicting the development trends of its mass, sustainable flight altitude, and load capacity. The primary development direction of solar-powered aircraft is long-endurance, high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned air vehicles, which has important application prospects in the fields of military reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and communication relay. Based on the predictive results and key technology research, this study proposes the short-, medium-, and long-term development goals and key tasks of solar-powered aircraft. Furthermore, it proposes strategies and policy recommendations to promote the sustainable development of solar-powered aircraft from three different levels: overall idea, technological breakthroughs, and system construction.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher 《中国工程科学》杂志社
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series 中国工程科学
spelling doaj-art-f4a62b34b8014316b74e5f6a63e81cf02025-08-20T02:08:50Zzho《中国工程科学》杂志社中国工程科学1009-17422025-04-01272112410.15302/J-SSCAE-2024.10.024Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft TechnologyXianglei Liu0Xinmeng Yang1Ruixiong Hu2Yimin Xuan3College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaCollege of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaCollege of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaCollege of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaSolar-powered aircraft has the advantages of prolonged high-altitude flight, operational flexibility, and zero carbon emissions, making it one of the emerging fields that the global aerospace industry prioritizes. This study investigates the current development status of solar-powered aircraft in China and abroad and summarizes the development trends of its key technologies, including advanced aerodynamic design, efficient and low-cost solar cells, high-energy-density batteries, and efficient and wide-operating-condition propulsion. Based on the energy balance and mass balance principles, this study establishes an overall performance simulation model for solar-powered aircraft, predicting the development trends of its mass, sustainable flight altitude, and load capacity. The primary development direction of solar-powered aircraft is long-endurance, high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned air vehicles, which has important application prospects in the fields of military reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and communication relay. Based on the predictive results and key technology research, this study proposes the short-, medium-, and long-term development goals and key tasks of solar-powered aircraft. Furthermore, it proposes strategies and policy recommendations to promote the sustainable development of solar-powered aircraft from three different levels: overall idea, technological breakthroughs, and system construction.https://www.engineering.org.cn/sscae/EN/PDF/10.15302/J-SSCAE-2024.10.024solar-powered aircraftgreen aviationcarbon neutralityefficient solar celladvanced aerodynamic designenergy storage battery with high energy density
spellingShingle Xianglei Liu
Xinmeng Yang
Ruixiong Hu
Yimin Xuan
Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft Technology
中国工程科学
solar-powered aircraft
green aviation
carbon neutrality
efficient solar cell
advanced aerodynamic design
energy storage battery with high energy density
title Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft Technology
title_full Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft Technology
title_fullStr Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft Technology
title_full_unstemmed Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft Technology
title_short Development and Application of Solar-Powered Aircraft Technology
title_sort development and application of solar powered aircraft technology
topic solar-powered aircraft
green aviation
carbon neutrality
efficient solar cell
advanced aerodynamic design
energy storage battery with high energy density
url https://www.engineering.org.cn/sscae/EN/PDF/10.15302/J-SSCAE-2024.10.024
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AT xinmengyang developmentandapplicationofsolarpoweredaircrafttechnology
AT ruixionghu developmentandapplicationofsolarpoweredaircrafttechnology
AT yiminxuan developmentandapplicationofsolarpoweredaircrafttechnology