Ergon Research

TRIATHLON project Update Work Package 1 (WP1) focuses on enhancing the performance of a coupled powertrain consisting of hydrogen-powered fuel cells and gas turbine combustors. The goal is to study PEM fuel cells with high-fidelity simulations and 1D modelling at both cell and system level (Ergon Research). Large-eddy simulations will assess the effects of fuel temperature and water injection on the combustor’s efficiency and emissions (Delft University of Technology). Recent Progress: ⦁ Ergon Research completed a thorough literature review on fuel cell technology, system layouts, and thermal management strategies. This was followed by the initiation of a validation phase based on existing literature test cases. ⦁ Delft University of Technology conducted a detailed review of reaction mechanisms for hydrogen-air combustion at low to very-low temperatures and started 1D calculations as well as preliminary large-eddy simulations for a model trapped-vortex combustor. Next Steps: ⦁ Ergon Research will wrap up the validation process at cell and system level and begin work on characterising and optimising fuel cell channels and systems with different geometrics, layouts, and conditions. ⦁ Delft University of Technology will scale up the model combustor based on a trapped vortex system to project-relevant operative conditions and start a sensitivity analysis on the effect of fuel injection temperature and strain with the objective to alter the rate between turbulence and reaction time scales and thus achieve better control of the rich-premixed combustion within the cavity. Stay tuned for more updates as we drive innovation in hydrogen technology! Visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dBvivbEF [Figure: "Large-eddy simulation of the trapped-vortex combustor." Credits: Dr. B. Kruljevic] #TRIATHLONproject #HorizonEU #aviation #Hydrogen

Ergon Research is designing innovative geometries for thermal management, which are #3Dprinted by Lithoz using technical #ceramics (aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride) and tested at Sabanci University to characterize the friction and heat transfer performance. This specific activity is carried out in Work Package 3 of the TRIATHLON project, where the consortium is looking for #innovative #technologies and strategies to make future #aeronautical powertrains more efficient. Stay tuned for more news!   #thermalmanagement #sustainableaviation #additivemanufacturing

It took a week to realize that two years had already passed. Just one week ago, I was in TU Delft | Aerospace Engineering defending my MSc thesis, 'Hydrogen-Enriched Methane Flames in a Swirl Stabilized Combustor with Axial Air Injection'. This moment marks both the end of a significant educational journey and the beginning of my career. I never imagined that I would become a PhD candidate, but the experiences of my first year at TU Delft opened my eyes to how much I care about sustainability, propulsion and power systems—and how much there is still to learn. My internship at Ergon Research taught me that through hard work, intellectual honesty, and passion, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome, and it’s possible to enjoy the process. My thesis journey would not have been possible without the incredible guidance of PhD candidate Gioele Ferrante and Prof. Ivan Langella, whose mentorship and patience were invaluable as they navigated my countless questions. A special thanks to all the members of the examination committee (Arvind Gangoli Rao, Nguyen Anh Khoa Doan, Anna Felden, Lorenzo Mazzei), whose insights and feedback greatly enriched my thesis experience. This post is a letter to my past self from two years ago. Back then, I had no idea I would end up here, or even make it abroad for more than six months. Along the way, I found my passion, a way to love what I do and contribute to something bigger. I discovered balance, met people who enriched my life, and most importantly, I found purpose. I hope this step signifies a blessing for the rewarding endeavours I will continue to undertake at Delft University of Technology. As of October 1st, I am embarking on a new mission: the TRIATHLON project (https://lnkd.in/d_97Zb4S), in which I will contribute in developing disruptive approaches to design more robust, low-maintenance, low-emission, highly responsive hydrogen-electric powertrains for megawatt-class aircraft.

On Monday 9th the Session “14.3 #HybridElectric Concepts: H2 Architectures” chaired by G. Bezos O’Connor (NASA) at The International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) 2024 Congress was participated by two presentations from the HOPE Horizon Europe project: 🔥 CFD-BASED SCOUTING FOR THE DESIGN OF A MULTI-FUEL KEROSENE / #HYDROGEN ATMOSPHERIC BURNER presented by Lorenzo Mazzei (Ergon Research) ⚡ MODELLING AND INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF A #FUELCELL AUXILIARY PROPULSION AND POWER UNIT presented by Moritz G. Kolb (Bauhaus Luftfahrt) #aviation #sustainableaviation #HorizonEU Follow us to stay up to date on the progress of HOPE Horizon Europe project.

On September 3rd I had the privilege to represent Ergon Research at the M18 Review Meeting of the HOPE Horizon Europe project. The hybrid meeting took place in Brussels in the offices of EUROCONTROL, where we had the opportunity to show some updates in the design of a multi-fuel #combustion system capable of burning BOTH #kerosene and #hydrogen. Thanks to Lorenzo Palanti for all the technical legwork and CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency for the funding! #aviation #sustainableaviation

On September 3rd, the HOPE Horizon Europe project consortium met in Brussels in the offices of EUROCONTROL. The M18 Review Meeting was participated by Delft University of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, Bauhaus Luftfahrt, Ergon Research, Hit09 Srl and The Manchester Metropolitan University, plus Hugues FELIX from CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency and Fabrice Giuliani from Combustion Bay One e.U. as reviewers. The work has also benefited from the valuable contributions of Abhishek Sahai (RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), Laurent TABERNIER (EUROCONTROL), Askin T. Isikveren (Safran), Nicholas Treleaven (Safran),  Daniel Reckzeh (Airbus), and Daan van Dijk (Rotterdam The Hague Airport) and Marco Groot (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines). HOPE is co-funded under the Horizon Europe topic HORIZON-CL5-2022-D5-01-12 (Towards a silent and ultra-low local air pollution aircraft) under GA n° 101096275. The support of the CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency is gratefully acknowledged. The work is also co-funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee n° 10068673. Hit the Follow button to keep in touch with us! #aviation #sustainableaviation #fuelcell #combustion #hydrogen 

On 23-25 July, Cosimo Bianchini from Ergon Research attended the 2024 Annual Conference of the ACC Users Group to summarize the extremely valuable work carried out with Galebreaker and CINECA in the framework of the HPacC-WIND (FF4EUROHPC project), a EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) initiative. The presentation described: ✔️ the implemented High-Fidelity #CFD methodology (thanks to the access to High Performance Computing facility), ✔️ the generated database of results highlighting the losses in cooling capability due to wind and the mitigation effect thanks to windshields, ✔️ the development of a #digitaltwin to thermally couple the air and the steam side of the condenser and its application to different sites worldwide to assess the impact of different weather conditions and energy selling price on the payback period, ✔️ the validation of a practical procedure to estimate the fluctuating blade load against direct simulation of the transient forces on the fan, ✔️ the identification of an innovative windshield concept able to minimize the fluctuating load on the blades of the windward fans and maintain a high level of recovery of the wind losses in terms of cooling capability. Soon the presentation will be available on the conference site but if you are eager to read more about these developments please contact us! 

𝐆𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 🌀 It’s very hot in Florence, but we are entertaining ourselves with some side projects for the next exhibitions… This is how Niccolò Casini spends his time with nTop. 🤦🏻😁 Updates will follow 📢 #additivemanufacturing #3dprinting #gyroids

Last week we were at ASME #TurboExpo with our booth. We had the opportunity to talk with visitors, old and new customers about our involvement in #HorizonEurope with HOPE Horizon Europe project and TRIATHLON project. But there's more! We had a dedicated banner to highlight our role in the Clean Aviation projects #AMBER and #HYDEA, both coordinated by Avio Aero. In these projects, we are dealing with #thermalmanagement of hybrid-electric regional aircraft and the design of a reactive test rig for #hydrogen #combustion. ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers) ASME International Gas Turbine Institute CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

Ergon has added this new feature to their CFD Analysis and can now develop the expected benefits to the steam turbine output and then calculate a ROI.