PALOMA will design and test a passively actuated opening system that will allow a volume of secondary air flow to be diverted into the engine core area for cooling purposes. Being entirely passive, no external electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic power will be required to run or control the system. The system will use a heat pipe to transfer the necessary heat to a shaped memory alloy (SMA) component whose movement will, through a set of mechanical linkages, open a flap set within the nacelle inner walls. This system will permit an optimisation of the engine thermal management and performance whilst needing minimal maintenance.

The results of the tests performed on the functional prototype will be integrated into the design of a demonstrator (which may also be used for flight tests) which in turn will be manufactured and tested. Modelling activities will support the project throughout its execution.

The PALOMA solution will be fully European and will bring together: a thermal management engineering and modelling company, a heat pipe specialist, an SMA specialist with unique design and industrial manufacturing capabilities and a broad-spectrum engineering company specialised in aircraft and engine integration.