The research activities are divided in three main topics:
- Electrified On-Board System design and modelling
This research topic includes the design of on-board systems of atmospheric aircraft and the analysis of the effects of the different system architectures (with different levels of electrification) on the entire aircraft. In particular, the effects due to the power requests, masses, volumes and specific installation needs of the different system architectures (on different aircraft categories) are evaluated. In this context, the analysis of the effects on the performance of the propulsion system is also addressed in detail. Models are developed for the design of new electrified systems such as: electric pressurization and air conditioning system, electric anti-icing system (electro-pneumatic and electro-thermal), electric / electro-hydrostatic actuators and new architectures and standards (high voltage direct or alternating current) for the electrical generation and distribution system (EPGDS). Particular attention is also paid to the certifiability of system solutions, their RAMS characteristics and installation strategies.
Stable collaborations have been established with: German aerospace research center DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) for the integration of on-board systems design discipline in the aircraft MDO and studies related to systems architecture optimization; LEONARDO Aircraft Division – Preliminary Design office to analyze the impact of system variables at aircraft level and vice versa; CONCORDIA University (CANADA) regarding the development of algorithms for the automatic installation of on-board systems; University of Naples for mission performance calculation of the electrified aircraft and with ONERA Toulouse for the optimization of the system configurations.
As part of this research direction, the ASTRID systems design software (Aircraft on board Systems sizing and TRade-off analysis in Initial Design) is developed to be compatible with a multidisciplinary design environment.
- On-Board System design for Hybrid Electric Propulsion
This research direction is focused on systems design to allow the implementation of hybrid (electro-thermal) propulsion on propeller-driven and jet-powered aircraft. These activities mainly involve the integration of on-board systems with the innovative propulsion system, the development of an advanced thermal management system, high voltage (kilovolt) high power (megawatt) EPGDS, and the development of new aircraft design methodologies (at a conceptual level) and mission requirements. System solutions suitable for this type of aircraft and capable of integrating with the electrical part of the propulsion system are studied. Particular attention is paid to the integration of electric motors, batteries and fuel cells. Integration of liquid hydrogen fuel system is considered one of the most important research sub-topic.
Moreover, studies regarding synergies between on-board systems (OBS) and between OBS and propulsion system is carried out focusing on TMS, ECS and EPGDS defining new system architectures and power management strategies.
Specific collaborations with Leonardo LABS is established to develop static, quasi-static and dynamic models of electrified on-board systems for hybrid-electric regional aircraft with particular attention to the thermal management system (TMS) adopting new types of exchangers and heat carrier fluids (nanofluids).
- Life Cycle Cost and Life Cycle Assessment
This research topic includes mainly the parametric estimate of the life cycle costs of atmospheric aircraft and their RAMS characteristics (reliability, availability, maintainability and safety). The activities refer both to the development of new methodologies and algorithms for cost and RAMS estimation also including the quantification of the impact, in economic and RAMS terms, of new aeronautical technologies. For this last aspect, activities are focused on MEA/AEA system technologies, new materials for thrusters, low-cost composites, laminar flow wing, morphing wing and adaptive winglet. Cost models using new cost drivers more sensitive to the technologies used in the aircraft have been proposed and accepted by the academic context. Furthermore, in parallel with these activities, models for estimating environmental impacts that include the entire life cycle (from the extraction of materials to the operation of the aircraft and its decommissioning) are developed. The comparison between traditional aircraft and hybrid-electric ones is of particular importance.
Collaborations is established with LEONARDO Cost Estimating office for cost model development, German aerospace research center DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) in Hamburg for study new Design to Cost strategies algorithms and for automated selection of system architectures considering their certifiability (safety level) and maintenance burden (logistic reliability), University of Naples for the estimation of maintenance costs of regional turboprop aircraft.
Within this research direction, two software have been developed, the first relating to the estimation of life cycle costs (LyCiA) for different categories of civil and military aircraft, the other for the life cycle assessment (F-LCA) for the estimation of the environmental impacts of civil aircraft.
People: Marco Fioriti