Energy Storage Systems in Aviation: Powering Flight with Precision

Electric and hybrid aircraft depend on advanced energy storage systems. Simulation helps optimize their safety, durability, and real-world performance.

Designing Reliable, High-Efficiency Energy Systems for Aerospace Applications

In aviation, energy storage systems must be compact, lightweight, and incredibly resilient, managing intense thermal and electrical loads without failure. As electric and hybrid aircraft development accelerates, simulation gives engineers the insight needed to meet rigorous demands for power density, durability, and safety.

Simulation helps you solve the toughest energy challenges in aerospace. Let’s talk about how we can support your battery or fuel cell system from concept to certification.

The Critical Role of Energy Storage in Sustainable Aviation

For all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsion to succeed, energy storage systems must deliver high energy density without compromising reliability. Aircraft require batteries and fuel cells that perform across variable flight conditions, resist vibration, and maintain safe operation even under extreme thermal and electrical stress.

Simulation enables engineers to:

  • Model and optimize battery architecture and housing
  • Predict electrochemical performance and degradation over time
  • Simulate structural response to vibration and pressure fluctuations
  • Identify and mitigate thermal runaway and EMI/EMC issues

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Battery Systems for Aviation

Battery design in aerospace presents a delicate balancing act. Systems must pack significant energy into a tight, lightweight form factor, all while managing heat, vibration, and EMI. With simulation, developers can:

  • Predict thermal behavior across duty cycles (Fluent, Icepak)
  • Assess structural integrity under aircraft vibration and G-loads
  • Simulate discharge and recharge performance (Chemkin)
  • Identify failure points in cell packaging or connectors

Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Storage

Hydrogen fuel cells present an alternative to traditional batteries, but they also introduce new challenges like cryogenic storage, flashback risk, and complex combustion dynamics. Simulation supports:

  • Cryogenic tank and valve design for sub-zero durability
  • Fuel cell electrochemistry and water management
  • Thermal and fluid analysis for combustion modeling
  • EMI/EMC compliance with high-voltage fuel cell systems

Power Management and System Integration

Whether using batteries or fuel cells, aerospace engineers must ensure seamless integration with propulsion systems, avionics, and power electronics. Simulation helps manage this complexity by enabling full-system modeling and embedded control validation. Tools enable:

  • Real-time controls co-simulation (SCADE)
  • System-level EMI/EMC compliance testing (SIwave, Maxwell)
  • Optimization of cabling, busbars, and thermal paths
  • Tradeoff analysis between energy density, weight, and safety
multiphysics and multidomain electric machine design flow
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SimuTech’s Simulation Tools for Energy Storage Innovation

We support aerospace development with a full suite of Ansys simulation capabilities:

  • Fluent, Icepak, Chemkin – Thermal, fluid, and chemical performance
  • Granta – Materials selection and sustainability profiling
  • Maxwell, SIwave – Electromagnetic analysis and EMI shielding
  • SCADE – Embedded software development and control logic
  • Mechanical – Structural performance and vibration durability

Why Work with SimuTech Group?

SimuTech Group helps aerospace engineering teams tackle the complexities of energy storage, from battery durability to fuel cell integration. With 40+ years of aerospace propulsion experience, and as the largest certified Ansys partner in North America, we offer simulation software, consulting, and training to accelerate your energy storage development timeline and enhance safety at every step.

From thermal management to vibration testing, simulation makes safer, more efficient energy storage possible. Talk to SimuTech Group to power your next aerospace project with confidence.

Other Aerospace Industry Applications

Propulsion Systems

Simulation accelerates the development of aerospace propulsion systems that are cleaner, quieter, and more efficient.

Parts Manufacturing

Simulation advances aerospace parts manufacturing by enabling efficient, precise, and sustainable production of high-performance components.

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Our team of experienced engineers can assist you at any step of your process.