Green Aerospace

SMALL AERO ENGINES – PERFORMANCE AND EMISSIONS USING DROP-IN FUELS

Starting Date: August 2021
Head of Research Group: Dr. Christian Helcig (TUM)

Stakeholders:

  • TUM (Chair of Turbomachinery and Flight Propulsion)
  • UniBwM (Institute of Aeronautical Engineering)

Abstract: The European Vision “Flightpath 2050” is looking for technologies and procedures available to allow a 75% reduction in CO2 and a 90% reduction in NOx emissions per passenger kilometre compared to a typical aircraft in 2020. Sustainably produced substitute fuels, which can be mixed with established fuels, contribute to that vision. Also, the high requirements for reliability and safety need to be met. The research group investigates drop-in biofuels using experimental analysis of the combustion characteristics (UniBwM) and their mode of operation on a helicopter engine (TUM). The effects of the modified fuels on stationary and non-stationary engine operation will be examined. The main focus is on the fuel-specific influence on the entire aircraft propulsion system’s functionality, starting with the fuel system’s functionality, to the atomization and combustion behaviour within the combustion chamber. Emissions will be analyzed and evaluated.

HYBRID LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES BY ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Starting Date: November 2021
Head of Research Group: Prof. Eric Jägle (UniBwM)

Stakeholders:

  • UniBwM (Institute of Materials Science)
  • TUM (Institute of Materials Engineering of Additive Manufacturing)

Abstract: Additively manufactured metallic components are being used more and more in the aerospace industry, where lightweight construction and efficient use of resources are of central importance. Additive manufacturing, as a fully digital production technology, offers tremendous opportunities for resource efficiency both in the manufacturing and the use phase of parts. In this research group, we will exploit the potential of additive manufacturing and will extend it to the manufacturing of hybrid parts with conventionally and additively produced portions. This approach requires research in the areas of joining of hybrid parts (semi-finished, conventional parts with filigree, additively produced parts) as well as in the joining of dissimilar alloys (conventional wrought alloys with AM-specific alloys). In the group, these research questions are tackled in a team consisting of scientists from the Technical University Munich and the University of the Bundeswehr Munich. We will work on aluminium alloys and produce parts in various sizes from mm to m. The additive technologies in use will be directed energy deposition (DED) as well as laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). Both processes allow the production of geometrically-hybrid parts and of multi-material parts.

SOUNDING RESEARCH ROCKETS AS A TEST BED FOR HYPERSONIC BOUNDARY-LAYER RESEARCH

Starting Date: July 2022
Head of Research Group: Prof. Christian Stemmer (TUM)

Stakeholders:

  • TUM (Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics)
  • DLR (Space Operations and Astronaut Training, Mobile Rocket Base MORABA (“Mobile Raketenbasis”)

Abstract: In the high-speed flight regime above Mach 5 (hypersonic flow), the boundary layer state determines flight quality but even more so the heat transfer on the surface of the flight system. The understanding of laminar-turbulent transition in the hypersonic boundary layer and its prediction are crucial for the design and development of more complex flight systems. Local roughness from manufacturing uncertainties as well as attachments as antenna or holes for screws or sensors can lead to a local increase in wall temperature due to transition and turbulence up to an order of magnitude.
Mutual direct numerical simulations on high-performance computers (by TUM) and experiments (by DLR) are undertaken on the free-flight platform Mapheus to investigate the details of laminar-turbulent transition under atmospheric flight conditions.

PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES FOR GREEN IN-ORBIT SPACECRAFT

Funding Period: April 2012 – October 2019
Head of Research Group: Prof. Oskar Haidn (TUM)

Stakeholders:

  • TUM (Chair for Turbomachinery and Flight Propulsion / Research Area Space Propulsion, Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management)
  • UniBwM (Institute for Thermodynamics)

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