The EPICEA (Electromagnetic Platform for lightweight Integration/Installation of electrical systems in Composite Electrical Aircraft) project intends to develop, validate and verify a computer environment (called the “EPICEA platform”) for evaluation of Electromagnetic (EM) hazards on Composite Electric Aircraft (CEA).
Energy performance, safety and limited emissions are a priority for aircraft manufacturers and their supply chains. Composite lightweight materials, electrification of functions on board aircraft and operations at higher altitudes/latitudes are parts of the fundamental levers for optimising the performance of existing and future generations of aircraft. However, such trends result in the exacerbation of EM hazards such as lightning and HIRF (High Intensity Radiated Fields) induced EM effects and exposure to Cosmic Radiations (CR). Specific protection measures are therefore required to protect electrical systems, leading to a weight penalty likely to make more difficult the emergence of the energy efficient CEA. EPICEA’s overall ambition is to make possible the development and the delivery of the CEA of the future (i.e. safe, energy-efficient and able to fly at higher altitude) by proposing a modelling environment able to design appropriate EM protection of electrical systems (i.e. more robust, lightweight, cost effective, safety compliant and easy to maintain).
The project addresses together the three following technical topics in the context of the development of future CEA prototypes:
- Modelling of EM coupling on Interconnected Systems (IS), (i.e. cable bundles)
- Modelling of new concepts of low profile antennas
- Evaluation of effects of CR on electronics (activity carried out by Canadian partners only)
EPICEA is an H2020 project co-funded by Europe and Canada started in February 2016 for 42 months. It has a budget of 3.4M€ and a consortium of 9 partners led by ONERA (OFFICE NATIONAL D’ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AEROSPATIALES) for Europe and ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE DE MONTREAL for Canada. Other partners are ARTTIC SAS (France), AXESSIM (France), FOKKER ELMO B.V. (Netherlands), IDS INGEGNERIA DEI SISTEMI SPA (Italy), BOMBARDIER INC. (Canada), ECOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPERIEURE (Canada), SOLUTIONS ISONÉO (Canada). Research and technical activity in EPICEA is organised in 5 technical Work Packages (WP) framed by a WP for dissemination and exploitation and a WP for the management of the project and the coordination of the Research, Innovation and Action (RIA). All through the project, Technology Maturity Assessment manages innovation, with the contribution of international experts (Advisory Board). Main results and innovation are disseminated through 2 public workshops (beginning of 2018 in Canada and beginning of 2019 in Europe).
