Page 20 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2014
P. 20
Summer 2014 European Energy Innovation
COMMUNICATION
Green Aviation Research
at Imperial College London
By Professor Paul Robinson, Director of Green Aviation, Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London
Imperial College London This research draws on the and bio-fuels. The research is
has been at the forefront expertise and facilities of College’s extensively supported by national
of aeronautical research internationally leading Aeronautics and European funding bodies
since the very early days of Department together with those of (including EPSRC, TSB & EEC),
powered flight and much of the its other pre-eminent engineering and by industry, and addresses
current research is focussed on and science departments and its such diverse topics as active and
the development of technologies specialist cross-disciplinary centres passive drag reduction, air traffic
that will deliver greener air in areas such as transport systems, management, modelling for
travel for future generations. composites, climate change advanced composite airframes,
optimisation of jet engines,
climate change modelling,
structural health monitoring,
suppression of combustion
instabilities for quieter engines,
biofuels and the development of
next generation multifunctional
composite materials.
INVESTING IN FACILITIES
The Department of Aeronautics
has state-of-the-art facilities to
support these green aviation
research activities including high
quality wind tunnels equipped
with advanced instrumentation,
specialist manufacturing,
testing and inspection facilities
for composite materials, and
advanced equipment for low
and high velocity impact.
These facilities have received a
significant boost with the success
of a £13m EPSRC proposal led
by the Aeronautics Department
for the establishment of a
National Wind Tunnel Facility
to keep Britain at the forefront
of experimental aerodynamics
research. £4m of the award will be
used to enhance the wind tunnels
at Imperial.
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
COMMUNICATION
Green Aviation Research
at Imperial College London
By Professor Paul Robinson, Director of Green Aviation, Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London
Imperial College London This research draws on the and bio-fuels. The research is
has been at the forefront expertise and facilities of College’s extensively supported by national
of aeronautical research internationally leading Aeronautics and European funding bodies
since the very early days of Department together with those of (including EPSRC, TSB & EEC),
powered flight and much of the its other pre-eminent engineering and by industry, and addresses
current research is focussed on and science departments and its such diverse topics as active and
the development of technologies specialist cross-disciplinary centres passive drag reduction, air traffic
that will deliver greener air in areas such as transport systems, management, modelling for
travel for future generations. composites, climate change advanced composite airframes,
optimisation of jet engines,
climate change modelling,
structural health monitoring,
suppression of combustion
instabilities for quieter engines,
biofuels and the development of
next generation multifunctional
composite materials.
INVESTING IN FACILITIES
The Department of Aeronautics
has state-of-the-art facilities to
support these green aviation
research activities including high
quality wind tunnels equipped
with advanced instrumentation,
specialist manufacturing,
testing and inspection facilities
for composite materials, and
advanced equipment for low
and high velocity impact.
These facilities have received a
significant boost with the success
of a £13m EPSRC proposal led
by the Aeronautics Department
for the establishment of a
National Wind Tunnel Facility
to keep Britain at the forefront
of experimental aerodynamics
research. £4m of the award will be
used to enhance the wind tunnels
at Imperial.
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
