| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C53218X/1 |
| Title: |
Platform: Future Propulsion Systems Thermodynamic Performance Research |
| Principal Investigator: |
Singh, Professor R |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Cranfield University |
| Scheme: |
Platform Grants (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
04 June 2005 |
Ends: |
03 June 2010 |
Value (£): |
435,168
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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In the 1930s when all aircraft were powered by piston engines, Frank Whittle, the British inventor of the modern jet engine, recognised that civil aviation growth would be limited unless passengers could fly safely and comfortably. This means that aircraft would have to fly above the weather and hence at altitudes beyond those that aircraft with piston engines could operate. Whittle's contribution was the jet engine, modem variants of which provide propulsion power to today's large civil aircraft. This concept was so successful that the resulting growth of civil aviation over the past 50 years was very rapid. One of the unfortunate consequences of this growth, together with many other human activities, seems to be changing the climate and damaging the atmosphere. Our country plays a very important role in the international aviation industry; it derives many benefits and, hence, it has both a large opportunity and a responsibility in finding the way forward. Future growth requires that we seek new solutions to the designs that have served us so well in the last 50 years. Current airliners are designed with the aim of producing, individually, the best engines, wings and cabins. This has resulted in a very attractive solution meeting the current requirements of safety and costs. However, this also means that there is little willingness to change and innovate. It will be necessary, in the next 5-10 years, to define new propulsion systems and aircraft that will allow us to fly with much less damage to the atmosphere.The proposed research is aimed at providing some of the tools and the knowledge into where the best solutions may lie. We therefore seek to bring together several futuristic components into advanced engines. There is a very large number of possibilities, including safe 'explosions' within an engine, combining advances in electricity generators, heat exchangers and pulsating flows. In addition to this, 'intelligent' engines and airframes will be examined; these are expected to physically change shape to suit different parts of the flight. The most useful novel propulsion systems would need to be designed together with the airframe, to study the best possible installation. This would enable the engine to improve the performance of the airframe in addition to providing power. As a result airliners of the future will be very different to those of today and they could use fuels such as hydrogen.The best solutions of these integrated airframes and engines will be judged from an economic and environmental point of view. Finding the best propulsion system solutions, while taking into account the other concerns, is a very complex task. It is necessary that the future aircraft continue to be economical to operate and that they produce much lower levels of pollution than today's. In the work proposed here, many variants will be examined to identify the best options. Given the futuristic nature of this investigation and that the work proposed is an important early step into the future, the work will be carried out with advanced computer simulations. Much of the effort will be devoted to improving the quality of the physics and mathematical calculations used. These improvements are of fundamental importance so that the results can be trusted and are useful. This research will explore the above wide range of issues and, hopefully, define the future propulsions systems, help identify possible directions of aviation and put our country at the centre of important decisions. It should also provide a richer opportunity for tomorrow's Frank Whittle.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk |