SFB880 - Fundamentals of high lift for future commercial aircraft

New performance parameters of high lift and a scalability in design and construction can be achieved for future aircrafts by means of an active air flow control through air mass flow supply at the wings and the tail. Since modern jet engines are not able to supply large amounts of air without efficiency loss or overdimensioning, the idea is to supply the air mass flow locally by electrically power compressors. Supplying air near the location of active air flow control requires the design of compact compressor systems with high power density and high efficiency over a wide operating range.  In addition, the dynamic processes taking place when using air blow as control parameter in the aircraft require a fast controllability of the compressor systems. For air safety reasons, the design of the compressor systems must be reliable and redundant.

Aim of this project is to achieve these goals  by investigating the scientific fundamentals for developing compact, dynamically controllable and likewise lightweight compressor systems which can be electrically operated via high-power drives in the wings. Power density and operating range of such compressor systems must be far beyond modern state-of-the-art technology. The compact design and saving of weight shall be achieved by novel aerodynamic approaches and later by lightweight construction measures. Moreover, a fast controllability of the systems is required which is not possible with current concepts.