Description du projet
Progresser dans l’optimisation du «tiltrotor» civil de nouvelle génération de Leonardo
Le tiltrotor civil de nouvelle génération de Leonardo (NextGenCTR) est un démonstrateur de tiltrotor (aéronef muni de rotors basculants) qui s’élancera dans les airs en 2023. Afin de devenir un avion viable, il doit pouvoir fonctionner en toute sécurité dans des conditions environnementales difficiles, caractérisées par des flux d’air contaminé et de la glace. Le projet TRIcEPS, financé par l’UE, entend développer des prises d’air équipées de systèmes intégrés de protection du moteur pour le NextGenCTR. En particulier, il mettra au point un système thermoélectrique amovible de protection contre la glace qui repose sur la technologie de couche chauffante et un filtre pour tube vortex afin de protéger le moteur de l’ingestion de particules. Le système complet sera soumis à des tests intensifs dans des souffleries de givrage, puis dans les airs.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
IA - Innovation actionCoordinateur
1210 Wien
Autriche