The research work of DLR’s Institute of Propulsion Technology is focused on the improvement of gas turbines in aviation and electric power generation by medium- to long-term exploitation of the inherent technical potentials. All current R&T-projects address the needs and requirements of society and industry, primarily concerning efficiency, developmental risk, safety and environmental aspects as exhaust and noise emission reduction. The technological research is partially based on qualified experiments requiring sophisticated instrumentation and specific and efficient test facilities to be applied. Furthermore the Institute has considerable knowledge and experience in developing and applying laser optical diagnostic methods (point, planar, time-resolved) for detailed flow investigations gas turbine components including compressors, turbines and combustors operated at flight relevant conditions. Research on aero engine compressors is focused on an integrated and multidisciplinary design approach of the entire subsystem. Due to the complexity of this effort, a combination of low and high fidelity tools seems most promising for optimization strategies in high-dimensional design spaces. The optimization platform takes advantage of both levels by means of sophisticated surrogate models, allowing for optimizations with up to 1000 free parameters. To realize shorter development times in the cyclical, interdisciplinary design of aero-engine components, highly efficient and robust numerical methods are essential. In this context, the DLR CFD tool TRACE has been extended to a multidisciplinary design environment for the simulation of multistage compressors and turbines. A central aspect of this work has been the development of a frequency domain based, time-linearized Navier-Stokes module for the rapid analysis of aero-elastic and aero-acoustic problems. Furthermore, for the fast computation of sensitivities, an adjoint module has been developed that will allow the acceleration of the automated optimization procedure for compressor- and turbine-components by several orders of magnitude. Sophisticated measuring techniques are developed at DLR for various tasks. They are applied in wind tunnels and all kind of test facilities including research aircraft for internal and external users, representing major elements of the system “experimental simulation”. Systemhaus Technik of DLR (SHT) is a facility for engineering and the integrated production of scientific equipment. Efficient and highly modern technological services housed at five locations of the DLR are available to support the research activities of all DLR Institutes and facilities. These services are grouped under the SHT and offer integrated services ranging from consultation on the development and assembly of scientific experimental products to production at the experimental facility. The National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) is the independent knowledge institute in the Netherlands on aerospace. The overall mission is making air transport and space exploration safer, more sustainable and more efficient. NLR’s multidisciplinary approach focuses on developing new and cost effective technologies for aviation and space, from design support to production technology and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul). With its unique expertise and state of the art facilities NLR is bridging the gap between research and application.
NLR covers the whole RDT&E (Research Development Test & Evaluation) range, including all the essential phases in research, from validation, verification and qualification to evaluation. By doing so, NLR contributes to the innovative and competitive strength of government and industry, in the Netherlands and abroad. NLR’s in-house CFD method ENFLOW is an advanced CFD code suite for aerodynamic, aero-elastic and aero-acoustic applications. It has been used in a wide range of activities requiring high-fidelity flow simulations, including aerodynamic performance prediction of aircraft and gas turbines, aircraft-engine integration, engine noise analysis, support for wind tunnel measurements and aircraft cabin internal flow.
The ROSSINI project is carried out within the Department of Flight Physics and Loads, which has a long tradition and distinguished track record in the area of aerodynamics, aero-elasticity and loads. It has long been involved in aerodynamic analysis and design of fans, compressors, turbines, propellers and helicopter rotors.
Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS is part of Liebherr Group. It develops, supplies and services innovative air management systems for the aerospace industry. The company can look back over 60 years of experience in aeronautical engineering and is represented in Southern France today at two locations: The headquarters are in Toulouse and Parts of the production are in Camp SAS located 50 kilometers away.
The product program of Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS covers:
Integrated air management systems
Air conditioning systemsVapor cycle systems
Engine bleed air systems
Cabin pressure control systems
Ventilation control systems
Wing anti ice systems
Hydraulic cooling systems
Supplemental cooling systems
Electronics
Research and development are the key to continuous innovation. In Toulouse site, air management test rigs allow to perform elaborate tests of complete aircraft air systems. The test center ISA (“Intégration des Systèmes d’Air”), allows to test particularly all electrically driven systems of a future more electric aircraft. Equipped with state-of-the-art vibration test rigs, a noise optimization anechoic chamber and altitude chambers of various sizes, the test center is a powerful research and development tool.
The ROSSINI project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 717081.