Future enabLing technologies for hYdrogen-powered Electrified aero engine for Clean aviatiOn

Project Information

FlyECO

Grant agreement ID: 101138488

DOI

10.3030/101138488

EC signature date 24 November 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 3 496 729,00

EU contribution

€ 3 496 729,00

Coordinated by

DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FlyECO (Future enabLing technologies for hYdrogen-powered Electrified aero engine for Clean aviatiOn)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

FlyECO will deliver transformative technologies to support Integrated Power and Propulsion Systems (IPPS) that contributes to zero-emission and sustainable growth of aviation and has the potential to enable aviation climate neutrality by 2050. The utilization of hydrogen as sole energy source offers the opportunity to eliminate aviation CO2 emissions entirely. Furthermore, a reduction in NOx emissions of at least 50% is enabled by ingesting steam produced by a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) into the hydrogen-fuelled gas turbine (GT). FlyECO will develop a simulation and evaluation framework in which the optimal architecture definition of the IPPS, the key enabling integration technologies and necessary controls concepts can be explored, investigated closely and advanced towards TRL3 through Proof-of-Concept (PoC) demonstrators. A Commuter/Regional aircraft application was chosen as a use case to develop the propulsion system with more than one megawatt power. In particular, the energy management and distribution strategies will be developed for both quasi-steady-state and transient operation. In addition, PoC for the IPPS and the reduction in NOx emissions will be provided via two demonstrators: (1) a sub-structured test-rig emulating the cycle-integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system and (2) a high-pressure combustor with steam ingestion. The outcome of FlyECO will be comprise of:
-An advanced simulation platform to analyse the impact of the SOFC integration on a hydrogen GT
-A validation methodology for novel energy and power management strategies for the IPPS architecture
-A controls approach for the IPPS, including specialised local control for components and subsystems as well as global control
-A set of key coupling technologies develop developed to enable the integration of the SOFC with a GT under consideration safe design process in aviation based on ARP 4754A
-An open-access database on hydrogen combustion with steam injection

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

- Inital Architecture has been defined
- Multi-point design exploration of the IPPS following a systematic component-level parameter analysis
- Derivation of a baseline architecture based on design exploration and detailed analysis on component-level
- Sizing and performance calculation of baseline architecture
- First assessment of the initial architecture has been conducted
- Design of a first mechanical integration concept for the IPPS
- Derivation of control framework for the hybrid gas turbine–SOFC propulsion system
- Development of dynamic models for P-HiL and control simulation
- Extensive planning of experimental activities and test campaigns to be carried out in the last year of the project
- Dissemination activities were performed in terms of publications, conference presentations and other external communication activities

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

It is already evident that further technology development will be required even beyond FlyECO project duration to mature the propulsion system concept.

Inital results look very promising regaring the impact and objectives outlined for the project orginally.