Project description
Cabin pressure control system for tomorrow’s tiltrotor aircraft
Tiltrotor aircraft operate at altitudes where pressurisation is required to ensure the comfort and safety of crew and passengers. Conventional systems on aeroplanes depend on bleed air taken from engine compressors to pressurise the fuselage and operate air conditioning systems. However, this negatively affects fuel efficiency. The EU-funded ELECTRA project will design architecture for a bleedless cabin pressurisation system (CPS) and develop, manufacture, test and validate CPS hardware that is appropriate for flight testing on the next-generation tiltrotor technology demonstrator. To do so, it will create a simulation platform, carry out system- and equipment-level trade-off analyses and produce equipment hardware. The project should contribute to the Clean Sky 2’s Joint Technical Programme objectives.
Objective
The main objectives of the proposed ELECTRA project are:
1. The development of an optimal architecture for a bleedless cabin pressurization system (CPS)
2. The development, manufacturing, test and qualification of CPS hardware suitable for flight testing on the next-generation tiltrotor technology demonstrator
To achieve the objectives, ELECTRA will:
1. Set up a simulation platform
2. Perform system-level and equipment-level trade-off analyses
3. Develop equipment hardware: cabin pressure management system, electrical compressor, electronic control unit and its firmware, outflow valve and several other system components
4. Develop a test rig for hardware testing, emulating the cabin pressurization system, and test the developed hardware
5. Develop a prototype qualification unit and perform environmental qualification tests
6. Develop a prototype flight unit, cleared for flight on the next-generation tiltrotor technology demonstrator
ELECTRA contributes to task 1.6.3 of the Joint Technology Programme, “Pressurization and Environmental Control System Components Design, Manufacturing and Testing”, by contributing to these JTP objectives:
• Reduction of carbon emissions through improved energy efficiency
• Reduced cost of ownership
• European industrial leadership on ‘Smart, Green and Integrated Transport’
• Improving mobility through new mobility concepts (more flexible, resilient, effective and affordable)
• Spin-off from research innovation activities to other aircraft
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
1059 CM Amsterdam
Netherlands