Minimising the climate impact of medium-range aircraft
AirTiMe
To reduce the climate impact, the aircraft must fly efficiently at variable altitudes. The necessary adaptability is ensured by adaptive, multifunctional control surfaces (moveables) on high-aspect wings.
The aviation industry is facing the challenge of drastically reduced CO2 emissions targets while also considering the non-CO2 effects at cruise altitudes in order to minimise its total impact on the climate. Adapting the flight trajectory during operation requires a wide range of aircraft designs, whereby the control surfaces on the wing are highly relevant.
The AirTiMe project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), aims to develop and integrate highly energy-efficient technologies to reduce the climate impact of typical medium- and long-range aircraft. The integration of innovative control surfaces is particularly challenging in the case of wings with a high aspect ratio, where the installation space is limited. Project participants from academia and industry are using the Virtual Product House (VPH) of the DLR in Bremen in particular to collaborate locally, shorten development times and accelerate market introduction. The VPH connects the prototype research based on test rigs at component level with the overall design of climate-optimised medium-range aircraft. The high performance computer cluster CARA and CARO support the integration within the digital end-to-end process.
Scientists at the Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology are working on the aerodynamic redesign of the wing, the engine integration and the development of adaptive control surfaces. These technologies allow a flexible adjustment of the flight trajectory to minimise the impact on the climate and ensure efficient operation. The Institute is also involved in the overall integration of technologies at aircraft level.
