Currently Active Projects

The overall objective of AMMORE project is to develop a standardized modular and multipurpose kW-class energy generation unit (EGU) based on an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack powered by ammonia. A key goal is to position ammonia as a sustainable, efficient, and economically viable fuel for SOFC-based systems.

A new test rig is being build.

The project involves the experimental investigation of hydrogen investigation of hydrogen combustion on a 5 kW burner. The focus is on focus is on recursive sequential combustion, which makes it possible to design very compact burners for gas turbines in general and aircraft engines in particular. in particular. Based on the physics underlying the concept, these burners would underlying physics, these burners would be characterised by very low emissions. In the project, burner configurations are being investigated and their combustion behaviour (incl. emissions) are quantified and optimised.

These activities consist of the preparation and realisation of the experiments on the 2-spool test rig TTF in the framework of the measurement campaign Graz/04’.

In view of current developments on the energy markets, the geopolitical situation and the European climate targets for 2050, pewag engineering is striving to develop a highly innovative steam boiler-based and fuel-flexible micro-CHP technology for decentralised energy supply based on biomass residues (wood chips, bark, straw, crop waste and even horse manure) in the output range below 200 kW. A key motivation here is that there is no CHP technology in the world in this output range that can offer comparable fuel flexibility, operational stability and therefore comparably low operating costs.

H2-TCF is an experimental test campaign to measure heat transfer and purge film cooling in an aerodynamically aggressive turbine center frame with non-turning structural Vanes (TCF) in within the new field of tension of hydrogen combustion. Due to the ever increasing turbine inlet temperature in an engine and the hot streaks from the combustor, which will be much more intense due to the use ofhydrogen, the TCF will become a thermally critical component in the future. In very simplified terms, hot streaks are the local temperature maxima downstream ofthe combustion chamber flames. These hot streaks are also still present at the TCF inlet with high intensity. Already today, TCF inlet temperatures are 1000°C.This is just about tolerated by the component without external cooling. Due to the increasing turbine inlet temperature and the hot-streaks intensified byhydrogen combustion, a comprehensive heat transfer investigation of this component is now indispensable. Furthermore, the cooling potential of the alreadyexisting high-pressure turbine purge air, primarily used to seal the cavities of the turbine, in the TCF shall be investigated, especially in the presence of hot-streaks. There was already a previous project (Opti-TCF) at ITTM on heat transfer in this TCF where a turbine (HPT) was running upstream. The results from Opti-TCF were so complex that only the quantification of the heat transfer was possible but not a full comprehension of the underlying mechanisms. Thisunderstanding, however, is essential for the sucessful introduction of hydrogen in aero engines. This will be solved with H2-TCF. The used test rig (AnCa) has modular components or inserts upstream of the TCF that gradually approximate the complexdownstream flow of a turbine. In addition, a hot-streak generator that can be installed in a modular fashion will also be used, allowing to study the influence andmigration of hot-streaks in the TCF. It is expected that the flow phenomena, which all occurred simultaneously and superimposed in Opti-TCF, will gradually adjust by adding the modularcomponents and inserts in the AnCa, allowing a deep understanding of the heat transfer and purge film cooling of the TCF to be derived. This understanding willthen be used to calibrate CFD simulations and create models that will allow to estimate the behavior of this component in the future. Furthermore, a statementcan be made as to whether the current TCF designs are at all suitable for more intense hot-streaks caused by hydrogen combustion and whether hydrogen istherefore drop-in capable from the point of view of the current TCFs. In international comparison with other investigations and especially in comparison with the FFG project IDOMENEO (874530), H2-TCF is the first project toinvestigate a state-of-the-art TCF with modular inflow conditions, purge cooling and a modular hot-streak generator. Thus, the interaction of the hot streaks withthe purge cooling films and the modular inflow conditions is especially investigated here. This is an absolute novelty. Besides its predecessor Opti-TCF, it is thefirst investigation ever to consider and investigate the cooling effect of purge air from the upstream turbine. In particular, we anticipate that the interactionsbetween hot-streak, purge air, and modular internals will produce highly non-trivial flow effects and phenomena. Knowledge of these will greatly accelerate thedesign of the hydrogen-capable TCF of the future.

Investigation of turbine rear frames with integrated heat exchangers for hydrogen preheating.

Lean combustion of fuels, i.e. combustion with excess air, is efficient and low in emissions. Unfortunately, this type of combustion is prone to thermoacoustic oscillations with all fuels, including sustainably produced alternative fuels for aviation. The field of thermoacoustics now describes processes in which fluctuations in the heat release lead to the propagation of sound waves, which can retroactively amplify these combustion instabilities. These self-reinforcing pressure fluctuations can become so severe that the combustion chamber is damaged or the flame extinguishes. Due to the interaction of various physical quantities, thermoacoustic processes are so complex that they can only be simulated with the assistance of high-performance computers. Thermoacoustic oscillations must first be examined both spatially and time-resolved in test rigs to validate these simulations. In cooperation with the Technische Universität Dresden, this project is now to prove that the combination of laser-optical measurement methods with artificial intelligence algorithms allows a complete spatial and temporal recording of these thermoacoustic oscillations even with a limited viewing angle always present in such test rigs. We expect that such a "four-dimensional" innovative element in studying thermoacoustic phenomena will lead to a paradigm shift in understanding this coupling of acoustics and flame dynamics.

OFELIA is a Project, which deals with "Ultra Efficient Propulsion" for short and short-medium-range aircraft. The following topics shall be dressed: • Demonstrate one engine architecture compatible with SR/SMR aircraft architecture. • Fuel-efficiency improvement of no less than 20% at the engine level, with a quantified reduction in installed TSFC (if applicable), CO2 and all other relevant GHG emissions, and full adaptability to 100% (non-blended) SAF. • Activities are expected to achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project. • Synergies with other EC/CAJU initiatives/programs are expected. A number of top-level goals will be the basis for performance targets. • No less than a 20% reduction in fuel burn and related emissions at an overall propulsion system level • Engine/installed performance compliant with the aircraft performance • The target of 30% fuel burn reduction (to be extended as much as possible to a target of 30% GHG emissions reduction at aircraft level • All noise and emission levels resulting from the projects are consistent with currently foreseen regulations and standards. • Weight constraints of the overall propulsion system so as to minimize the propulsion weight ratio to the operation empty weight. • Compatible with safety as an overarching requirement. The task of TU-Graz is to study and evaluate novel turbine architectures for these highly efficient aircraft designs. In particular, the large-scale test rigs, which are unique in Europe, will be used.