TERA for aircraft engines
The TERA (Technoeconomic Environmental Risk Analysis) framework is being applied to engine technology evaluation in various EU large aeronautic and space integrated projects notably VITAL (enVIronmenTALly friendly aeroengine), NEWAC (NEW Aeroengine Core), and DREAM (valiDation of Radical Engine Architecture systeMs). While the first two are projects under the sixth framework programme, the later project is conducted in the seventh framework programme.
For an aeroengine technology assessment, fairly detailed multi-disciplinary modules representing the engine system performance, weight and cost, emissions (gaseous and noise), environment as well as aircraft performance are required. Figure 1 shows the modules integrated with an optimiser for the evaluation/optimization of one or more of the objectives given as outputs from the TERA framework.
Figure 1 – TERA for Aeroengine technology assessments
The selection of engine configuration development options is now strongly linked to its environmental performance. Within the TERA framework for aeroengine assessment is included the environmental model that amongst other things provides the global warming potential (GWP) index. GWP represents an attempt to integrate the differential radiative forcing effect due to an anthropogenic emission along a pre-defined time horizon. Total GWP calculated in this way indicates the mass of CO2 which would produce the same effect upon the heat balance of the Earth as the various substances actually emitted do together, taking a total period of 100 years into account.
Contact
Dr Stephen Ogaji
s.ogaji@cranfield.ac.uk
Research: Environment and Health
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