Overview
NEWAC provided a step change for low emission engines by introducing new innovative core configurations to strongly reduce CO2 and NOx emissions. This breakthrough was achieved by developing and validating new core configurations using heat management (intercooler, cooling air cooler, recuperator), improved combustion, active systems and improved core components. NEWAC will design and manufacture these innovative components and perform model, rig and core tests to validate the critical technologies.
The NEWAC core configurations include an Inter-cooled Recuperative Aero engine (IRA) operating at low overall pressure ratio (OPR), an inter-cooled core configuration operating at high OPR, an active core and a flow controlled core operating at medium OPR. NEWAC complemented past and existing EC projects in the field, e.g. EEFAE in FP5 and VITAL in FP6.
Through its research and intensive validation activities NEWAC provided the following technological achievements:
- For the intercooled recuperative aero engine configuration, an optimised recuperator arrangement, ducts with reduced pressure losses and a radial compressor optimised for the actual IRA core engine specification has been validated with rig tests.
- For an intercooled core configuration, a compact and efficient intercooler with an aggressive ducting has been validated in rig tests and an advanced compressor with improved transient behaviour that can be integrated into an intercooled engine has been validated in rig test.
- For an active core configuration, a new type of casing treatment for the compressor rear stages has been developed. Here, the goal was not only to improve the full speed surge margin, but also the design point efficiency by lowering the tip clearance sensitivity of the rear stages by the casing treatment. Such a type of casing-treatment - together with a semi-active clearance control system - competed with the above mentioned ACC system for rear stages and was tested in a compressor rig.
- For a flow controlled core, outer flow-path control technologies from casing, an air aspiration concept applied on blades or vanes, a new advanced 3D compressor aerodynamic design and a robust and tight rotor/stator clearance management has been validated in model and a compressor rig test.
- For the different core configurations innovative combustors as LP(P) technology applied for low OPR engines (IRA), Partially evaporated rapid mixing (PERM) technology for medium OPR engines (active or flow controlled core) and Lean direct injection (LDI) technology for medium to high OPR engines (intercooled core) has been validated in model tests, atmospheric rig test and full annular high pressure tests.
The main expected result was fully validated new technologies enabling a 6% reduction in CO2 emissions and a further 16% reduction in NOx relative to ICAO-LTO cycle. Most importantly, the project addressed the challenges involved in delivering these benefits simultaneously. NEWAC would deliver together with EEFAE (-11% CO2, -60% NOx), national programs and expected results of VITAL, the overall CO2 reduction of 20% and the NOx reduction close to 80% at a technology readiness level of 5, contributing to the attainment of the ACARE targets.
The project was structured into specific sub-projects, as follows:
- Sub-project 0 - NEWAC coordination and technical management
- Sub-project 1 - Whole engine integration
- Sub-project 2 - Intercooled recuperative core
- Sub-project 3 - Intercooled core
- Sub-project 4 - Active core
- Sub-project 5 - Flow controlled core
- Sub-project 6 - Innovative combustor.
Due to the fact that the engines are operated in very different applications like short/long range or low / high thrust, different approaches are needed to optimise the emission reduction. Four approaches were undertaken to reduce the CO2 emissions:
- the increase of the thermal efficiency by heat management;
- the introduction of active systems;
- the high power density core engine to enable very high bypass ratio engines;
- more efficient core components.
To reduce the NOX emissions, the following three options were utilised in NEWAC:
- The reduction of fuel burn related to the above mentioned CO2 reductions result in an equivalent decrease of the produced NOX, provided that the combustion temperature is unchanged.
- The reduction of the combustion temperature leads to lower NOX emissions.
- The combustor technology itself exhibits potential for NOX reductions.
Funding
Results
All new configurations investigated in NEWAC were compared and assessed regarding their benefits and contributions to the global project targets. Detailed specifications were provided based on the global project target for all innovative core configurations. Analytical studies compared the different environmental and economic impact. As a result, NEWAC identified the technology routes to environmentally friendly and economic propulsion solutions. The developed components further resulted in optimised engine designs based on the NEWAC technologies but also in combination with the results of the EEFAE, Silencer and VITAL programmes. To be able to exceed the ACARE 2020 objectives also even more innovative core configurations were investigated and benchmarked with the engine specification mentioned above.
Technical Implications
As the related technologies could not be tested in one validator, different test vehicles were envisaged. In all cases, the test vehicles and experimental data for the baseline geometry already existed so that this approach was cost-effective. Furthermore, this approach allowed for a more precise evaluation of the investigated concepts and technologies, in comparison to an integrated validator. It is a matter of fact that the high pressure compressor is the most critical engine component concerning complexity, development risk and engine operability. For that reason, changes in the engine layout always require an adaptation of the HPC, to ensure that this sensitive component still guarantees an appropriate performance and operability. The four approaches even had extremely strong implications and demands on the HPC, for example the additional volumes of heat exchangers and ducting in the compression system, the variable need of cooling air mass flow, or the demand of very high aerodynamic loading. Consequently, besides the combustor technology and the heat exchanger and ducting technology, a further focus of NEWAC was the HP compressor. Besides the above mentioned near and medium term approaches, in NEWAC also studies on highly innovative core configurations were undertaken. The goal of the studies was to pick up ideas available in the research field and identify those, which show high improvement potential using real engine specifications and therefore may be developed in the farer future. By this, NEWAC also generated basic concepts to close upcoming technology gaps and opened up a long-term perspective of further improvements.