The Inter Compressor Duct (ICD) rig at DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology in Cologne, Germany. Credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR).

German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt, DLR) has collaborated with MTU Aero Engines and GKN Aerospace Engine Systems to work on a research project to optimise an engine compression system to make it lighter and power future aircraft.

The project is a part of the Clean Sky 2 programme, a European Union (EU) initiative that seeks to make the aviation sector cleaner and more efficient.

The technologies that are currently under development by the DLR partnership could be employed in the next generation of geared turbofans.

“As a national research centre, DLR plays a key role in the progressive development of the entire air transport system.”

DLR and its partners in the project have developed a new wind-tunnel test rig known as MTU Centre of Competence for Propulsion Systems at DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology in Cologne, Germany, using Inter Compressor Duct (ICD).

The test rig is expected to better customise the low-pressure compressor, ICD and high-pressure compressor to each other, in order to identify and exploit the potential for new engines that save more fuel.

It will also help in systematic measurement of flow conditions in short, sharply angled ICDs.

DLR and its partners have already begun testing operations at the ICD rig.

DLR aeronautics research executive board member Rolf Henke said: “As a national research centre, DLR plays a key role in the progressive development of the entire air transport system.

“There have been great advances in propulsion in recent decades.”

Next year, DLR and its partners aim to test three different ICD configurations under the Clean Sky 2 project.

Based on the results of the planned tests, a two-shaft test rig is expected to be designed in 2019 and built in the following year. The partnership intends to test low-pressure and high-pressure compressors from 2021.