Auxiliary power units constitute a non-negligible source of pollution not only in flight conditions but also at airports and their surrounding areas. This work compiles a technical feasibility assessment focused on the analysis of innovative alternatives to the traditional aircraft gas turbine based auxiliary power unit arrangement. The proposed innovations involve both new power train configurations and the use of different fuels, with the purpose of reducing both the primary energy consumption and the environmental impact of these systems. The core innovation proposed here consists in the use of a supercharged rotary engine as an alternative configuration to traditional auxiliary power units in aircraft. The rotary engine can achieve higher thermal efficiencies than gas turbines, which corresponds to a lower specific fuel consumption and, thus, a lower carbon footprint. Additionally, the proposed alternatives will involve hybrid configurations, providing thermal energy generation with electrical storage devices. Finally, the assessed arrangements will be based on the “more electric aircraft” concept, which implies a simplification of the aircraft non-propulsive power system design and allows the addition of batteries to the generating unit. In order to perform this assessment, different thermal models and simulations have been developed, allowing the quantification of the improvements related to the alternative proposed configuration.

辅助动力装置不仅在飞行条件下而且在机场及其周围地区都是不可忽视的污染源。这项工作汇编了一项技术可行性评估，重点是分析基于传统飞机燃气轮机的辅助动力装置的创新替代方案。提出的创新涉及新的动力总成配置和不同燃料的使用，目的是减少这些系统的主要能源消耗和对环境的影响。这里提出的核心创新在于使用增压旋转发动机作为飞机上传统辅助动力装置的替代配置。与燃气轮机相比，旋转式发动机可实现更高的热效率，这对应于更低的比燃料消耗，因此，较低的碳足迹。另外，提出的替代方案将涉及混合构造，从而利用蓄电装置产生热能。最后，评估后的安排将基于“更多电动飞机”的概念，这意味着飞机非推进动力系统设计的简化，并允许在发电机组中增加电池。为了执行此评估，已开发了不同的热模型和模拟，从而可以量化与备选拟议配置相关的改进。评估后的安排将基于“更多电动飞机”的概念，这意味着飞机非推进动力系统设计的简化，并允许在发电机组中增加电池。为了执行此评估，已开发了不同的热模型和模拟，从而可以量化与备选拟议配置相关的改进。评估后的安排将基于“更多电动飞机”的概念，这意味着飞机非推进动力系统设计的简化，并允许在发电机组中增加电池。为了执行此评估，已开发了不同的热模型和模拟，从而可以量化与备选拟议配置相关的改进。