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.
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)