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