Integrated Design for Highly Efficient Propulsion Systems for Future Aircraft Applications PhD

Start date – 06/06/2023

Duration of Award: 3 years

1st Supervisor: Ioannis Roumeliotis   2nd Supervisor: Vassilios Pachidis

Applications are invited for fully funded PhD studentship in propulsion systems design and optimization within the Propulsion Engineering and Thermal Power Centre at Cranfield University. The research is part of the EU Clean Aviation Project HEAVEN, led by Rolls-Royce, where 20 partners from all over Europe will develop technologies for reducing the environmental impact of aviation.

Climate-neutral aviation will require the use of alternative fuels such as green hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) combined with the power density of an ultra-efficient gas turbine engine for the Small and Medium Range (SMR) market which corresponds to approximately 50% of the current share of air transport emissions.

Clean Aviation’s Strategic Research Innovation Agenda (SRIA) considers the efficiency improvement of the gas turbine architecture, combined with the use of Hydrogen or 100% SAF net zero carbon fuel as the main route to achieve its ambition of 30% greenhouse gases reduction by 2035.

HEAVEN is a consortium of 20 partners led by Rolls-Royce and including Cranfield University aiming to develop technologies for achieving these ambitious targets in the frame of Clean Aviation initiative.

Serving this ambition, this research aims to develop novel multi-disciplinary design threads for providing highly efficient and feasible designs of future propulsion systems at the early stage of development. For this, novel methods for integrating steady state, transient and sub-idle simulation models will be developed providing suitable design spaces. The developed design threads will be applied for assessing novel technologies for Ultra High Bypass ratio engines for the SMR market.

The successful candidate will participate in consortium & Clean Aviation events and workshops, present in high impact conferences, and liaise with the relevant partners. Training on tools used by aerospace industry will be provided along with training through Cranfield University Doctoral Researchers Core Development.

Entry requirements

We are seeking a talented graduate, having (or be expected to obtain) MSc or equivalent in Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace Engineering. Good mathematical background and experience with programming would be desirable.

Funding

This studentship is open to both UK and international applications.

Sponsored by UKRI (Horizon Europe Guarantee Extension); for advertising we can either use the “Clean Aviation/UKRI or EC/UKRI)               

How to apply

For further information please contact:
Name: Ioannis Roumeliotis
Email: i.roumeliotis@cranfield.ac.uk

If you are eligible to apply for this studentship, please complete the online application form .