PROJECT VITAL
Environmentally Friendly Aero-Engine
Funding: European (6th RTD Framework Programme) Duration: Jan 2005 - Jan 2009 Status: Complete with results Total project cost: €90,727,112 EU contribution: €50,731,461
Call for proposal: FP6-2003-AERO-1 CORDIS RCN : 94198
Background & policy context:
At the time of this project air traffic growth (5% growth rate per annum according to ICAO) was greatly impeded by the noise generated by aircraft as well as the harmful effects of aircraft pollutants on the environment (3% growth in CO2 emissions per annum). Aircraft engines are a large source of CO2 and NOx emissions and contributors of noise. The quantity of these gases emitted into the atmosphere is controlled by operational factors as well as engine and aircraft design technologies. This is why the engine is judged to require a further 20% CO2 reduction when the ACARE SRA requires a 50% reduction by 2020.
Consequently, Europe's aviation industry faces a massive challenge to satisfy the demand whilst ensuring economic, safe and environmentally friendly air travel. Radical and innovative engine structures and architectures werre investigated in order to meet these extremely challenging targets for acoustics and pollution. Such reductions could only be achieved by reconsidering completely, in a first step, the different components of an engine with innovative breakthrough designs, and in a second step, by assembling and optimising these components in new engines.
VITAL provided a major advance in developing the next generation commercial aircraft engine technologies, enabling the European aero-engine industry to produce high-performance, low-noise and low-emission engines at an affordable cost for the benefit of their customers, air passengers and society at large.
Objectives:
The main objective of VITAL was to develop and validate engine technologies that provide:
6 dB noise reduction per aircraft operation and equivalent to a cumulative margin of 15-18 EPNdB on the three certification measurement points and 7% reduction in CO2 emissions.
This is with regard to engines in service prior to 2000.
VITAL integrated the benefits and the results of ongoing research projects with regard to weight reduction (EEFAE) and noise reduction (SILENCE(R)) technologies, assessed at a whole engine level their benefits and combined their outcomes with those of VITAL to enable, by the end of the project in 2008, the following:
8 dB Noise reduction per aircraft operation (cumulative ~24 EPNdB on the 3 certification measurement points) and 18% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Methodology:
The objective of VITAL was achieved through the design, manufacture and rig-scale testing of the following innovative technologies and architectures:
two innovative low-speed fan architectures for (1) Direct Drive Turbo Fan (DDTF) and Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) and (2) Contra-Rotating Turbo Fan (CRTF). This included intensive use of lightweight materials to minimise the weight penalty of Very High Bypass Ratio (VHBR) engines; new high-speed and low-speed low-pressure compressor concepts and technologies for weight and size reduction; new lightweight structures using new materials as well as innovative structural design and manufacturing techniques; new shaft technologies enabling the high torque needed by the new fan concepts through the development of innovative materials and concepts; new low-pressure turbine technologies for weight and noise reduction, suited to any of the new fan concepts; optimal installation of VHBR engines related to nozzle, nacelle, reverser and positioning to optimise weight, noise and fuel burn reductions.
All these technologies were evaluated through preliminary engine studies for the three architectures, DDTF, GTF and CRTF.
To achieve the VITAL objectives, different modules of an engine were considered, some generic and usable in all three engine types, while some others were specific. Consequently, the work in VITAL was organised into seven technical sub-projects and one sub-project (Sub-Project 0) for management and dissemination activities. The technical sub-projects were split according to each part of the engine. A transversal sub-project (Sub Project 1) ensures that the module is well integrated by:
defining module requirements and assessing the three main engine architectures: DDTF, GTF and CRTF.
VITAL researched, designed and developed technologies regarding:
innovative fan design (lightweight fan and contra fan technologies) - Sub Project 2; high-load booster design and technologies - Sub Project 3; lightweight hot and cold structures - Sub Project 4; novel materials and concept for low-pressure engine shafts - Sub Project 5; high-loaded and high-lift low noise and lightweight, low-pressure turbines - Sub Project 6; nacelle design and aircraft installation - Sub Project 7.
Parent Programmes: FP6-AERO-1.2 - Improving environmental impact with regard to emissions and noise Institute type: Public institution Institute name: European Commission Funding type: Public (EU)
Lead Organisation:
Snecma
Address: 2 Bd du Général Martial-Valin PARIS France
Organisation Website: http://www.snecma-moteurs.com EU Contribution: €0
Partner Organisations:
University Of Southampton
Address: Highfield Southampton SO17 1BJ United Kingdom Organisation Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk EU Contribution: €0
Aircelle
Address: Route du Pont VIII B.P. 91 GONFREVILLE-L'ORCHER' France
Organisation Website: http://www.aircelle.com EU Contribution: €0
Arttic
Address: 58A rue du Dessous des Berges 75013 PARIS France
Organisation Website: http://www.arttic.com EU Contribution: €0
Deutsches Zentrum Fr Luft Und Raumfahrt E.v
Address: Linder Hoehe 51147 KOELN Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.dlr.de EU Contribution: €0
Vibratec
Address: 28 Chemin Du Petit Bois 69131 Ecully France EU Contribution: €0
Ecole Nationale Supérieure De L'aéronautique Et De L'espace
Address: 10 avenue Edouard Belin 54032 TOULOUSE France
Organisation Website: http://www.supaero.fr EU Contribution: €0
Global Design Technology Address: Parc Scientifique du Sart Tilman Rue des Chasseurs Ardennais 4432 LIÈGE (ANGLEUR) Belgium
Organisation Website: http://www.gdtech.net EU Contribution: €0
Photon Laser Engineering Gmbh
Address: Staakener Str. 23 BERLIN Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.photonag.com EU Contribution: €0
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co Kg
Address: Eschenweg 11 15827 BLANKENFELDE-MAHLOW Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.rolls-royce.com/deutschland EU Contribution: €0
The Swedish Defence Research Agency
Address: Ranhammarsv. 14, Bromma STOCKHOLM Sweden
Organisation Website: http://www.foi.se EU Contribution: €0
Von Karman Institute
Address: Waterloosesteenweg 72 SINT-GENESIUS-RODE Belgium
Organisation Website: http://www.vki.ac.be EU Contribution: €0
Ms Composites
Address: 42 rue Dutemple LIEVIN France Organisation Website: http://www.ms-composites.com EU Contribution: €0
Office National D' Etudes Et De Recherches Aérospatiales
Address: 29, avenue de la Division Leclerc BP72 CHÂTILLON CEDEX France
Organisation Website: http://www.onera.fr EU Contribution: €0
Techspace Aero
Address: Route de Liers, 121 HERSTAL (MILMORT) Belgium
Organisation Website: http://www.techspace-aero.be EU Contribution: €0
Universitaet Der Bundeswehr Muenchen
Address: Werner Heisenberg Weg 39 85577 Neubiberg Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.unibw-muenchen.de EU Contribution: €0
Centre De Recherche Et De Formation Avance En Calcul Scientifique
Address: 42 avenue Gaspard Coriolis TOULOUSE France
Organisation Website: http://www.cerfacs.fr EU Contribution: €0
Pca Engineers Limited
Address: Homer House, Sibthorp Street LINCOLN United Kingdom
Organisation Website: http://www.pcaeng.co.uk EU Contribution: €0 Short Brothers Plc
Address: Airport Road, Queens Island Belfast BT3 9DZ United Kingdom
Organisation Website: http://www.aerospace.bombardier.com EU Contribution: €0
Cranfield Aerospace Limited
Address: Cranfield University Campus Hangar 2 Cranfield MK43 0AL United Kingdom
Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk EU Contribution: €0
The University Of Nottingham
Address: University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD United Kingdom EU Contribution: €0
Centre De Recherche En Aéronautique
Address: Avenue Jean Mermoz 30, Bât. Mermoz 1 / GOSSELIES Belgium
Organisation Website: http://www.cenaero.be EU Contribution: €0
Rolls Royce Plc
Address: 65 Buckingham gate LONDON SW1E 6AT United Kingdom
Organisation Website: http://www.rolls-royce.com EU Contribution: €0
Avio S.p.a.
Address: Via 1 Maggio 99 00187 RIVALTA DI TORINO Italy
Organisation Website: http://www.aviogroup.it EU Contribution: €0
Stichting Centrum Voor De Ontwikkeling Van Transport En Logistiek In Europa
Address: Van Nelleweg 1 3044 BC Rotterdam Netherlands
Organisation Website: http://www.cetle.org EU Contribution: €0
Gkn Aerospace Services Limited
Address: 2ND FLOOR, ONE CENTRAL BOULEVARD, BLYTHE VALLEY PARK SOLIHULL B90 8BG United Kingdom
Organisation Website: http://www.aerospace.gknplc.com EU Contribution: €0
Universite Pierre Et Marie Curie
Address: Place Jussieu,4 75252 PARIS France
Organisation Website: http://www.upmc.fr EU Contribution: €0
Centro De Estudios E Investigaciones Tecnicas De Gipuzkoa
Address: P de Manuel Lardizábal 15 1555 SAN SEBASTIÁN Spain
Organisation Website: http://www.ceit.es EU Contribution: €0
Fundacion Centro De Tecnologias Aeronauticas
Address: Parque Tecnologico De Alava (Minano), C/ Juan De La Cierva 1 1510 Minano (Alava) Spain Organisation Website: http://www.ctaero.com EU Contribution: €0
East-4D Gmbh Lightweight Structures
Address: Annaberger Str. 240 CHEMNITZ Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.east-4d.de EU Contribution: €0
Industria De Turbo Propulsores S.a.
Address: Parque Tecnológico, nº300 48170 ZAMUDIO (VIZCAYA) Spain
Organisation Website: http://www.itp.es EU Contribution: €0
Politecnico Di Torino
Address: Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 10129 Torino Italy
Organisation Website: http://www.polito.it EU Contribution: €0
Universidad Politécnica De Madrid
Address: Avda. Ramiro de Maeztu, 3 28040 MADRID Spain
Organisation Website: http://www.upm.es EU Contribution: €0
Universita' Degli Studi Di Firenze
Address: Piazza San Marco, 4 FIRENZE Italy
Organisation Website: http://www.unifi.it EU Contribution: €0 Universitaet Paderborn
Address: Warburger Strasse 100 33098 Paderborn Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.uni-paderborn.de EU Contribution: €0
Universita' Di Lecce
Address: viale Gallipoli n. 41 LECCE Italy
Organisation Website: http://www.dii.unile.it/ EU Contribution: €0
Volvo Aero Norge As
Address: Kirkegardsveien 45 1004 KONGSBERG Norway
Organisation Website: http://www.volvo-aero.no EU Contribution: €0
Chalmers Tekniska Hoegskola Ab
Address: - 41296 GOTHENBURG Sweden
Organisation Website: http://www.chalmers.se EU Contribution: €0
Central Institute Of Aviation Motors
Address: Aviamotornaya St, 2 MOSCOW Russia
Organisation Website: http://www.ciam.ru EU Contribution: €0
The Chancellor Masters And Scholars Of The University Of Oxford
Address: University Offices, Wellington Square OXFORD OX1 2JD United Kingdom
Organisation Website: http://www.ox.ac.uk EU Contribution: €0
Technische Universität Dresden
Address: Helmholtzstr. 10 DRESDEN Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.tu-dresden.de EU Contribution: €0
Fischer Advanced Composite Components Ag
Address: Fischerstr. 9 192 RIED / INNKREIS Austria
Organisation Website: http://www.facc.co.at EU Contribution: €0
Force Institute
Address: 345,Park Alle 345 2605 BRONDBY Denmark
Organisation Website: http://www.force.dk EU Contribution: €0
Wytwornia Sprzetu Komunikacyjnego "pzl-Rzeszow" S.a.
Address: Hetmanska 120 340 RZESZOW Poland
Organisation Website: http://www.wskrz.com EU Contribution: €0
Graz University Of Technology
Address: Rechbauerstraße 12 GRAZ Austria
Organisation Website: http://www.ttm.tugraz.at EU Contribution: €0
Mtu Aero Engines
Address: Dachauer Strasse 665 80995 MUENCHEN Germany
Organisation Website: http://www.mtu.de EU Contribution: €0
National Institute For Aerospace Research "elie Carafoli"
Address: Iuliu Maniu 220 76-179 BUCHAREST Romania
Organisation Website: http://www.incas.ro EU Contribution: €0
Council For Scientific And Industrial Research
Address: Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria 46 PRETORIA 0001 South Africa
Organisation Website: http://www.csir.co.za EU Contribution: €0
Università Degli Studi Di Genova
Address: N/a 16126 Genova Italy EU Contribution: €0
Högskolan Väst
Address: Gardhemsvagen 34 957 TROLLHATTAN Sweden
Organisation Website: http://htu.se EU Contribution: €0
Swerea Sicomp Ab Address: Norrbottens län 271 PITEÅ Sweden
Organisation Website: http://www.ifpsicomp.se EU Contribution: €0
Volvo Aero Corporation
Address: Flygmotorvägen TROLLHÄTTAN Sweden
Organisation Website: http://www.volvoaero.com EU Contribution: €0
Cranfield University
Address: AVENUE EDOUARD BELIN 10 CRANFIELD BEDFORDS. MK43 0AL 31055 United Kingdom
Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk EU Contribution: €0
Airbus Operations Sas
Address: ROUTE DE BAYONNE 316 31060 TOULOUSE France
Organisation Website: http://www.airbus.com EU Contribution: €0
Key Results:
The project results included:
two fully instrumented fans (DDTF & CRTF); a fan rotor, a fan casing and a structural fan stator; two low-pressure compressor boosters (low-speed and high-speed); new lightweight materials and material forms (polymer matrix composites and titanium); composite high torque shafts; turbines for DDTF/GTF applications; nozzle installation under the wing and guidelines for the development of 2020 engines.
Technical Implications
The VITAL and concurrently, the ACARE 2020 objectives, cannot be reached through the improvement of existing proven technologies. Breakthroughs are needed in the design of engines and in the technologies used in the various components. This was achieved in VITAL by developing a new set of technologies for producing a very high By-Pass Ratio (BPR) engine, reducing noise emissions and fuel consumption from engines and avoiding or minimising the drawbacks of engine drag and weight associated with low specific thrust engines. VITAL focussed on Low Pressure parts and installation.
The project aimed to develop these new technologies through:
1. New fan concepts with the design of two types of fans: counter-rotating and light-weight fans. 2. New booster technologies: high load boosters, low speed and high speed, associated aerodynamics technologies and new lightweight materials. 3. 30% weight saving in the engine structure through the use of polymer composite and corresponding structural design and manufacturing techniques. 4. 50% torque capability without weight impact of the shaft through the development of innovative materials TiMMC shaft (Titanium Metal Matrix Composites) and Multi Metallic Shaft with associated concepts. 5. 20% weight saving in the low-pressure turbine through innovative ultra high lift airfoil design, ultra high stage loading, lightweight materials and design solutions and low noise design measure. 6. Optimal installation of high BPR engines related to nozzle, nacelle, reverser and positioning to optimise weight, noise and fuel burn reduction.
The VITAL technologies were tested and validated using major aerodynamic, acoustic and mechanical rig tests throughout the project lifetime. They provided a validated set of engine technologies and integrated research infrastructure supported by a validated exploitation plan for the use of these technologies in a next generation low-noise, cost-efficient engines.
Documents: Robotic Assembly of Aero-Engine Components.pdf (Other relevant documents)
STRIA Roadmaps: Vehicle design and manufacturing Transport mode: Air transport Transport sectors: Passenger transport, Freight transport Transport policies: Deployment planning/Financing/Market roll-out, Environmental/Emissions aspects Geo-spatial type: Infrastructure Node