AWARE: Probabilistic Analysis of Maintenance Models for Hybrid-Electric Aviation Drives

Description:

The project addresses the issue of prediction and sensitivity of MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) of future hybrid-electric powertrains for aerospace applications. These will have different wear and failure scenarios and service life metrics compared to conventional gas turbine-based powertrains. Thus, large influences and sensitivities are to be expected with respect to service life and final DOC (Direct Operating Cost) compared to conventional propulsion systems. The project will develop corresponding models and metrics for reference engines and different hybrid architectures of short-haul aircraft, which will allow a knowledge-based mapping of operation and maintenance concepts. Failure scenarios and key figures of electrical propulsion components (motors and power electronics) will be determined for the models. In addition, the subsystems that will be required in the future (e.g. cooling systems for electrical components) will be considered and also mapped in a parameterized manner.

The final maintenance model thus allows the identification of components with a major influence on the achievable service life of the drive as well as a prediction of further MRO-relevant sensitivities up to a rough estimate of changed MRO cost structures of future hybrid drives. Furthermore, combinatorial and probabilistic approaches are used for model uncertainty analysis on the levels of the electrical subsystems, the powertrain architecture and also for the maintenance model.

The project is conducted jointly with partners at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Ruhr University Bochum and Leibniz University Hannover. The Chair of Turbomachinery and Flight Propulsion is responsible for the probabilistic investigations.

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