ITP Aero leads Spanish research into next generation aircraft propulsion systems

ITP Aero has secured its participation in two far-reaching state of the art technology projects that will contribute significantly to sustainable aviation and efficient digital transformation of production processes.

ITP Aero is the only Spanish company that will take part in the research and innovation project “Investigation and Maturation of Technologies for Hybrid Electric Propulsion” (IMOTHEP), within the EU’s Horizon 2020 framework. IMOTHEP is aimed at achieving a key step in assessing the potential offered by hybrid electric propulsion and, ultimately, building the corresponding aviation sector-wide roadmap for the maturation of this technology. This four-year long project, which started on January 2020, is comprised of seven research & development centres, 11 aeronautic and electric system companies, a service SME and 7 universities from 9 EU countries, as well as 6 research, technology and development organizations from Canada and Russia.

ITP Aero’s contribution within IMOTHEP, as one of the main development partners, is focused on the Energy Generation Work Package. The company is responsible for the conceptual design of three power turbine configurations for electrical power generation in flight, applied to three different aircrafts architectures: one regional aircraft with distributed propulsion, and two short/medium range commercial aircrafts. ITP Aero is also responsible for the conceptual design of the gas generator.

ITP Aero will also be “Joint Action towards Digital Transformation” (JANO) Project Leader, starting 4^th February 2020 with a kick off meeting at the Aeronautics Advanced Manufacturing Center (CFAA) in Biscay (Spain), under the 2019 CIEN (National Business Research Consortia) call programme from the Spanish Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI). JANO aims at developing key technologies for the digital transformation of the companies that make up the consortia – Siemens Gamesa, Gestamp, Danobat, Nippon Gases, Renishaw, ONA and Trimek.

ITP Aero leads the JANO consortia, and will contract universities and technology centres such as UC3M, Azterlan, Ideko, Inovalia, Basque Center of Applied Mathematics (BCAM) and the CFAA to support research activities. This project’s objective, which will be ITP Aero’s responsibility, is based on developing technologies towards the “smart factory” concept, such as: big data, including machine connectivity in a safe environment and the development of high impact predictive models in production processes; advanced additive manufacturing application developments and predictive maintenance of machines; augmented reality and artificial vision systems applied to maintenance and automatic defect recognition.

Iñaki Ulizar, Executive Director of Engineering & Technology of ITP Aero, has commented: “In ITP Aero we work to make aviation an increasingly sustainable industry. We are proud to be leading Spanish research into hybrid electric propulsion and to spearhead digital transformation within our industry; both projects will contribute to a cleaner, quieter and smarter future for aviation”.

More about IMOTHEP

The objective of IMOTHEP (Investigation and Maturation of Technologies for Hybrid Electric Propulsion) is to meet the goal of a carbon neutral growth of commercial aviation. This project is an integrated end-to-end investigation of hybrid-electric power trains for commercial aircraft, performed in close connection with the propulsion system and aircraft architecture. Aircraft configurations will be selected based on their potential for fuel burn reduction and their representativeness of a variety of credible concepts, with a focus on regional and short-to-medium range missions. The project will also address the infrastructures and tools required for Hybrid Electric Propulsion (HEP) development, as well as the need for technology demonstrations or regulatory evolutions. Eventually, all these elements will feed the research and technology roadmap of HEP, which will constitute the final synthesis of the project.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875006.

More information here

More about JANO

JANO (Joint Action towards Digital Transformation) will develop key technologies associated with the digital transformation of the companies that make up its consortia. These technologies are considered essential to be able to achieve a “smart factory” status, with connected products and an effective digital transformation. Each company will put these technologies into action in order to improve their competitiveness and achieve products manufactured with zero defects and zero downtime of machines or products in service.

About ITP Aero

ITP Aero is the Spanish aeronautical engine and components company, and ranks ninth in the sector worldwide. With over 30 years of sustainable growth, the company is committed to innovation and the development of proprietary technology as its main competitive strengths.

ITP Aero is present throughout the entire life cycle of an aeronautical engine, from R&D to in-service support. It employs more than 3,800 people in five different countries and registered a turnover of 880 million euros in 2018. ITP Aero is a corporate entity within the Rolls-Royce Group.

Contact:
Louis Trollope
Communication Specialist
M: (+34) 610 267 334
louisjon.trollope@itpaero.com