• Project duration:
  May 01, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2023
• Funding:
  BMWK
• Funding code:
  20E1913B
• Researchers:
  Karl Ziaja, M. Eng. 
• Project partners:
  Technical University of Braunschweig, Technical University of Dresden, Leibniz University Hannover

In the LuFo VI project AWARE, the focus is on predictive modelling and sensitivity analysis of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) for future hybrid-electric propulsion systems in the aviation sector. Future hybrid-electric aviation propulsion systems exhibit different wear and failure scenarios as well as operational and Direct Operational Cost (DOC) compared to conventional gas turbine propulsion systems. To address the project goal, the research aims to develop models and metrics for reference aircraft engines and various hybrid-electrical architectures for short-haul aircraft, enabling a knowledge-based assessment of operational and maintenance concepts.
The Chair “Thermal Turbomachines and Aeroengines” at Ruhr University Bochum is responsible for model development for the performance analysis of various hybrid-electric aviation propulsion systems (Figure 1). This also includes a re-evaluation of the aerodynamics and re-design of gas turbine components of a conventional reference aircraft engine, as well as the development of specific operating strategies to account for the altered performance availability due to hybridization during an entire flight mission.
Additional models encompass failure scenarios and metrics for electrical drive components such as motors and power electronics. Furthermore, future subsystems such as cooling systems for electrical components are parameterized and integrated into the models.
The final maintenance model allows the identification of components with a significant impact on the achievable service life and provides predictions of MRO-relevant sensitivities up to a rough estimate of altered MRO cost structures for future hybrid-electric aviation propulsion, as well as model uncertainties using combinatorial and probabilistic approaches.
The project is conducted in collaboration with partners from the Technical University of Braunschweig, Technical University of Dresden, and Leibniz University Hannover

Figure 1