“The EU is targeting a 75% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per passenger kilometre between the years 2000 and 2050,” said Tomas Grönstedt, Professor in Turbomachinery at Chalmers and coordinator of the project. “To reach the 75% reduction target, we estimate that the last 18% will have to come from technology developed within our project.”
Feasibility of the innovations is ensured through close collaboration with industry, so that concepts that would be unrealistic to put into practice can be discarded at an early stage. The engines to be developed must also be capable of meeting stringent noise and nitrous oxide emissions targets. Results from the project will be used in industry roadmapping to plan technology acquisition for future aero engines. It is anticipated that the project will bring many high technology jobs to Europe.
A modern aero engine has an overall efficiency of around 40%. With year 2050 technology it may be possible to reach efficiencies exceeding 60% by combining incremental improvements to conventional components with new design concepts to target the major sources of loss inherent in existing engines.
State-of-the-art aero engines experience a drop in pressure in the combustion chamber, but designs that raise pressure during the combustion process can drastically increase engine efficiency. Another large source of loss comes from the fact that the exhaust air from the engine is still 500 to 700°C hotter than ambient.
“If this wasted heat can be recycled then major improvements can be expected,” Grönstedt explained. “The kinds of radical solutions we will be exploring could completely change the layout and appearance of future engines.”
The project team includes four of the largest engine manufacturers in Europe: Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, Safran Aircraft Engines and GKN Aerospace, four universities: Chalmers University of Technology, Cranfield University, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace, the research institute Bauhaus Luftfahrt and the technology management company Arttic.
