Firewall assemblies for hybrid electric aircraft powerplants

Abstract

A powerplant can include a first prime mover configured to turn a propulsor, and a second prime mover operatively connected in parallel with the first prime mover to turn the propulsor together with or separately from the first prime mover. The powerplant can include a firewall disposed around at least one of the first prime mover or the second prime mover to create a first prime mover fire zone and a second prime mover fire zone separate from the first prime mover fire zone such that the first prime mover is protected against a second prime mover fire, and vice versa.

1 . A powerplant, comprising:
 a first prime mover configured to turn a propulsor;   a second prime mover operatively connected in parallel with the first prime mover to turn the propulsor together or independently; and   a firewall disposed around at least one of the first or second prime movers to create a first prime mover fire zone and a second prime mover fire zone separate from the first prime mover fire zone such that the first prime mover is protected against a second prime mover fire, and vice versa.   
     
     
         2 . The powerplant of  claim 1 , wherein the powerplant further includes a nacelle. 
     
     
         3 . The powerplant of  claim 2 , wherein the first prime mover, the second prime mover, and the firewall are disposed within the nacelle. 
     
     
         3 . The powerplant of  claim 2 , wherein the nacelle forms at least a portion of the firewall. 
     
     
         4 . The powerplant of  claim 1 , wherein the firewall is only a first prime mover firewall that is around the first prime mover, wherein there is no separate second prime mover firewall surrounding the second prime mover. 
     
     
         5 . The powerplant of  claim 4 , wherein all first prime mover components within a nacelle are contained within the firewall. 
     
     
         6 . The powerplant of  claim 1 , further comprising a fire extinguisher system comprising at least one fire extinguishing medium source and at least a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein the first outlet is configured to provide extinguishing medium to the first prime mover fire zone, wherein the second outlet is configured to provide extinguishing medium to the second prime mover fire zone. 
     
     
         7 . The powerplant of  claim 6 , wherein the first prime mover fire zone is fluidly sealed from the second prime mover fire zone such that extinguishing medium can be used in either fire zone independent of the other. 
     
     
         8 . The powerplant of  claim 1 , wherein the firewall includes a metallic and/or composite baffle that surrounds the first prime mover to form the first prime mover fire zone. 
     
     
         9 . The powerplant of  claim 8 , wherein the baffle is configured to be bolted to a nacelle. 
     
     
         10 . The powerplant of  claim 1 , further comprising a ventilation pathway for each fire zone for providing outside air to each fire zone. 
     
     
         11 . The powerplant of  claim 10 , wherein the ventilation pathway includes a dedicated nacelle scoop in fluid communication with each fire zone. 
     
     
         12 . The powerplant of  claim 1 , wherein the first prime mover includes an electric motor configured to convert electrical energy into kinetic energy to turn the propulsor; and wherein the second prime mover includes a heat engine configured to convert a fuel into kinetic energy to turn the propulsor, wherein the powerplant is a hybrid electric powerplant. 
     
     
         13 . An aircraft, comprising:
 at least one powerplant of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . The aircraft of  claim 13 , wherein the first prime mover includes an electric motor configured to convert electrical energy into kinetic energy to turn the propulsor; and wherein the second prime mover includes a heat engine configured to convert a fuel into kinetic energy to turn the propulsor.