The University of Nottingham celebrates the opening of a new facility, which aims to accelerate the development of More Electric Aircraft.
The ‘Aircraft Electric Power Systems Innovations Laboratory’ will be housed at the Aerospace Technology Centre on the University’s Innovation Park, where significant research is already being undertaken on More- and All-Electric Aircraft.
This independent facility will enable experimental investigations into novel concepts in architectures, energy management and controls for a variety of AC, DC and hybrid electrical power systems for future More- and All-Electric Aircraft.
It will also provide a validation and testing capability for different aircraft equipment by simulating a realistic aircraft electrical environment up to internationally leading standards.
Breakthrough aerospace technologies
Furthermore, the facility has underpinned the development of a suite of successful research funding proposals, enabling the University of Nottingham to attract further significant funding through the Clean Sky 2 aeronautical research programme.
Clean Sky 2 is a unique Public-Private Partnership between the European Commission and industry that delivers break-through technologies for incorporation into the next generations of aircraft from 2025 onwards.
The University of Nottingham is currently a Core Partner in the Clean Sky 2 Airframe and Systems Integrated Technology Demonstrators.
Reinforcing links between academia and industry
On Wednesday 25th November a launch event for the facility saw the University welcome 40 delegates from across industry, academia and funding organisations. Presentations were provided by a range of influential speakers from leading aerospace R&D organisations, including QinetiQ and the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking. The event was concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the facility.
Steve Clerkin, Business Development Manager at Raytheon UK, said: “What the team here have achieved is tremendous - reinforcing the links between academia and the needs of industrial partners, this facility creates a stronger base to demonstrate research and complementary advanced technologies.
This facility also allows industry the opportunity to test More Electric Aircraft technologies at a systems level by leveraging The University of Nottingham’s knowledge of platform load demands coupled to a representative aircraft electrical architecture”
A world class facility
Professor Pat Wheeler, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Nottingham, added: "This facility offers a fantastic opportunity for the electrical systems and power electronics engineers of the future to validate their simulation results and make a real and positive impact on the future of More Electric Aircraft design.
It is also a great opportunity for our young researchers to access a in a world class facility that has already received commendation for research activities from leading European airframers such as Airbus and Dassault Aviation."
For details about the Aircraft Electrical Power Systems Innovations Lab, and the University's research in the area of More- and All-Electric Aircraft, email Dr Serhiy Bozhko, Associate Professor in Aircraft Electrical Systems, or call +44(0) 115 846 8490.
Posted on Wednesday 25th November 2015