Descripción del proyecto
Avanzar hacia la optimización del convertiplano civil de nueva generación de Leonardo
El convertiplano civil de nueva generación (NextGenCTR, por sus siglas en inglés) de Leonardo es un demostrador de aeronave de rotores basculantes que surcará los cielos en 2023. Para ser una aeronave viable, debe funcionar de forma segura en condiciones ambientales adversas, que se caracterizan por flujos de aire contaminado y aire. El proyecto TRIcEPS, financiado con fondos europeos, prevé desarrollar entradas de aire con sistemas de protección del motor integrados para el NextGenCTR. En concreto, desarrollará un sistema termoeléctrico extraíble de protección antihielo basado en la tecnología de capa calefactora y un filtro de tubo de vórtice para proteger el motor de la ingestión de partículas. El sistema completo se someterá a pruebas exhaustivas en túneles de viento con hielo y. más tarde, en el aire.
Objetivo
TRIcEPS aims at fulfilling all the requirements of the JTI-CS2-2018-CfP08-FRC-01-21, “Development of integrated engine air intake and protection systems for Tilt Rotor” by designing, manufacturing, testing and qualifying the air intakes and their integrated engine protection system for the NextGenCTR technology demonstrator, contributing to meet the goals of the CS2JU FRC WP1. The proposed engine protection system is geared on two key enabling technologies:
• a removable thermoelectric ice protection system based on the heater layer technology. This is already under development on the blade of the NextGenCTR and on the wing of the regional aircraft;
• a vortex tubes filter for protecting the engine from ingestion of particles in harsh environment.
The air intake will be equipped with a bypass for operation in clean flow and a compressor washing system. The choice of a vortex tubes instead of a barrier filter is key in TRIcEPS. This solution, despite providing 1-to-2% lower particle separation efficiency, allows for:
• full self-cleaning capabilities, thus not requiring maintenance (i.e. fit and forget approach);
• stable pressure drop in brownout operation, resulting in no need of emergency bypass actuation which would expose the engine to the harsh environment;
• significantly reduced icing issues;
• easier flight certification path, according to FAA;
resulting in the best technical compromise for the NextGenCTR considering its mission profile. Moreover, this choice does not to infringe IPRs on tilt rotor air intake (as per patenting activities by Bell Helicopters on barrier filter), thus securing the position of Leonardo with respect to the future market.
TRIcEPS will deliver the air intake, its engine protection system and all the relevant sub-systems at TRL 7, supplying Leonardo with the reference technical solution for engine protection of the NextGenCTR, strengthening the competitiveness of the European rotorcraft industry.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
IA - Innovation actionCoordinador
1210 Wien
Austria