Aircelle leads Europe's NIPSE research project on next-generation powerplant systems

The challenges of equipment integration on future aircraft powerplants, particularly next-generation Ultra-High Bypass Ratio (UHBR) powerplants, is the focus of a three-year European Union-funded technology project now underway with 10 companies and organisations*, and led by Aircelle (Safran) as industrial coordinator.

The NIPSE project seeks to find better placement options for equipment, using locations in the engine, the nacelle and the aircraft itself. NIPSE also addresses the need to improve thermal management of integrated powerplant systems (IPPS).

Called NIPSE (Novel Integration of Powerplant System Equipment), this programme addresses installation limitations expected in such future powerplant systems, including the thinner nacelles and larger fan modules; along with architectures that require more functionality and provide extra thermal constraints through lower ventilation capability and reduced volume availability. "The challenge with engines will be how to make their equipment smaller, more functional and more robust to higher temperatures, which we are examining in the framework of NIPSE," said Iain Minton, the engineering head at Aircelle's Burnley, England operation, who also is the NIPSE project coordinator.

NIPSE is targeting a 15-percent reduction of equipment volume for the UHBR powerplant, along with weight savings and improved thermal management on the more integrated powerplant systems, enabling UHBR solutions to achieve their potential powerplant fuel savings of up to 2-3 percent. Additionally, a reduction of development time for the installation of powerplant systems is anticipated.

Established within the European Commission's Horizon 2020 research and innovation framework programme, NIPSE is funded at 6.2 million euros and has a three-year duration. NIPSE is managed by INEA (Innovation and Networks Executive Agency).