Turbotech Revolutionizing Aviation with Hydrogen-Fueled Turbine Engine
Key Ideas
- Turbotech, in collaboration with Ansys and the BeautHyFuel project, successfully demonstrates a hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine for small-scale aircraft and drones.
- Using Ansys simulation, Turbotech overcomes design challenges to create a hydrogen-agnostic gas turbine, enabling a seamless transition to hydrogen fuel.
- Ansys solvers aid Turbotech in identifying optimal nozzle designs for hydrogen combustion, reducing prototyping costs and timelines, and ensuring structural integrity.
- The BeautHyFuel project, supported by the French Civil Aviation Authority, highlights the importance of Ansys simulation in advancing sustainable aviation solutions.
Turbotech, a leader in aviation solutions, is making strides in sustainable aviation by developing the first viable hydrogen-fueled turbine engine for various aircraft types and drones. Through a partnership with the BeautHyFuel project and leveraging Ansys simulation technology, Turbotech successfully showcased a hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine, emphasizing the critical role of simulation in driving next-generation technology. Traditional turbine designs faced challenges in effectively utilizing hydrogen as a fuel, but Turbotech's scalable approach, empowered by Ansys simulation, ensures a smooth transition to hydrogen by designing a fuel-agnostic gas turbine.
The use of Ansys simulation not only aided in identifying optimal nozzle designs for real-world testing but also significantly reduced prototyping costs and timelines. By running simulations on boosted workstations, Turbotech avoided the need for large clusters, streamlining the design process. The successful integration of a hydrogen retrofit was made possible by Turbotech's use of Ansys solvers, which provided critical predictions and insights during testing.
Guillaume Malet, the chief technology officer at Turbotech, highlights the company's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing pilot experience through innovative solutions. The collaboration with Ansys and the BeautHyFuel project, with support from the French Civil Aviation Authority, showcases a collective effort towards advancing sustainable aviation solutions. Walt Hearn, senior vice president at Ansys, acknowledges the expertise of Turbotech's engineers and the crucial role of Ansys' technical support in achieving this milestone, emphasizing the significant time and cost savings for Turbotech as they pioneer this new market.