The continuous increase of the share of renewable energy sources is redefining the electrical networks. In future infrastructures, an important number of agents (sources, storage devices and consumers) will have intelligent interfaces allowing the regulation of the injection and extraction of power into the grid. This context will create multiple alternatives to increase the efficiency in electricity generation and consumption, to reduce energy costs and to provide a more reliable operation of electrical grids. These future networks will be only possible with suitable control algorithms. INCITE is a multi-sectoral consortium gathering experts on control and power systems, from academia and industry with the purpose of providing innovative control solutions for the future electrical networks.

The TROPHY project, which stands for “Technological Research On Propulsion by HYdrogen”, aimed at supporting the Clean Aviation HYDEA funded project (HYdrogen DEmonstrator for Aviation), which proposes a technology maturation plan to develop an H2C (Hydrogen Combustion) propulsion system compatible with an Entry Into Service of a zero CO2 low-emission aircraft in 2035. TROPHY supported design activities related to the development of an H2 engine fuel system as well as the investigation of integration aspects between engine and aircraft. Decision was made by the consortium to close TROPHY grant agreement as it turned out that key objectives as initially envisaged were no longer relevant.

Sci-Fi-Turbo aims to revolutionise the aero engine design process by advancing and integrating high-order scale-resolving simulations (SRS) and optimization methodologies into standard industrial workflows. SRS are a key enabler for developing ultra-efficient propulsion systems that drastically reduce GHG emissions by 2035 and achieve the EU's target to be climate-neutral by 2050. The advancements will boost design process capabilities and reduce product development cycles. Future engine concepts require opening up the design space and solving complex design problems out of reach for today's standard industrial design processes within the required timeframe. To achieve the necessary step change in engine design, a similar step change is needed for the design approach. Sci-Fi-Turbo fills this urgent need by exploiting opportunities in three foundation technologies: High-performance computing, high-order numerical methods, and AI/ML. The combination is used to implement and demonstrate two key advancements. First, a highly integrated high-order SRS design process is established for modern CPU/GPU hardware, meeting robustness, accuracy, and turnaround time requirements. It will provide increased functionality and effectivity at an industrial level and pave the way for the uptake of SRS-based design by the industry. The high accuracy of the methodology will also reduce the need for low-TRL testing and enable new concepts and extended operating conditions. Second, an SRS-assisted multi-fidelity, data-driven optimisation framework is developed, which embeds and exploits the advantages of highly accurate high-order SRS while leveraging AI/ML methods to increase the predictive capability of lower-fidelity simulations and maximize overall process accuracy and speed. Dedicated experiments support the technology advancement and will enable the design of net-zero-emission engines in due time and contribute to the digital transformation of the aviation industry.

“ReSiSTant” targets the optimization of two industrial pilot lines by using micro- and nanostructured surfaces for drag reduction. The objectives are to implement new developed surfaces into 1) Aircraft Turbofan Engines and 2) Industrial Compressors. Positive effects by usage of such surface could give benefits in terms of efficiency, CO2 reduction and noise emission and further on a positive economical and ecological impact. To enable the usage of such micro- and nanostructures, special development on the surface material for better durability in rough conditions has do be done. It is planned to do nano-functionalization, like implementing nanostructures and nanoparticles for better resistance in rough conditions. Riblets basically consist of tiny streamwise grooved surfaces which reduce the drag in the turbulent boundary layer of up to 8%. Surface modifications such as riblets are the most promising technology that could be applied without additional external energy or additional amount of air. An additional key outcome of the proposed project is a detailed database of experimental data for cases with and without riblets, which can be leveraged to validate tools for forced response and aero-acoustic predictions of an aircraft engine and its low-pressure turbine components. At industrial gas compressors the riblet structures reduce the aerodynamic shear stress losses. An efficiency increase of 1% of a single stage system shall be achieved. During the project a riblet coating that includes a corrosion protection should be developed. Beside the resistant hardness of the coating also a self-cleaning mechanism by usage of nanostructures should be implemented. The new surface manufacturing processes shall be completed in less than 5 hours and a higher process reliability and predictability of the performance results is sought. As a whole, the success of the project will therefore contribute to significantly increasing the level of maturity for these pilot lines to TRL7

Main objective for the Clean Sky 2 Large Passenger Aircraft Programme (LPA) is to further mature and validate key technologies such as advanced wings and empennages design, making use of hybrid laminar airflow wing developments, the integration of most advanced engines into the large passenger aicraft aircraft design as well as an all-new next generation fuselage cabin and cockpit-navigation. Dedicated demonstrators are dealing with Research on best opportunities to combine radical propulsion concepts, and the opportunities to use scalled flight testing for the maturation and validation of these concepts via scaled flight testing. Components of Hybrid electric propulsion concepts are developed and tested in a major ground based test rig. The LPA program is also contributing with a major workpackage to the E-Fan X program. The R&T activities in the LPA program is split in 21 so-called demonstrators. In the project period 2020 and 2021 a substantial number of hardware items ground and flight test items will b