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International Summer School for young engine builders was held in Samara

International Summer School for young engine builders was held in Samara

Самарский университет

Young Russian and German scientists are working to develop a micro gas turbine engine

04.07.2016 2016-07-04
III Russian-German Summer School for engine builders was held in Samara University. It was attended by graduate students from the Departments of Engine Design and Engine Theory of our university, as well as two PhDs- engineers and three doctoral students from the University of Stuttgart. The German delegation was headed by Professor Stefan Staudacher.
 
“This is the third School. Two years ago the first one was held in Samara in the premises of Samara State Aerospace University. And last year our graduate students travelled to Stuttgart. Having two schools, we realized that we can work together and set up a Research Institute of Advanced Engines. Resources of Aircraft Engines Institute of the University of Stuttgart, two departments of engines and power plants of Samara University Institute have become its basis”, - told  Sergey Falaleev Professor of Samara University.
 
The current international School for engine builders was held under the aegis of the joint Research Institute of Advanced Engines. Its supervisors are Professor Stefan Staudacher and Aleksandr Yermakov and its Director is Professor Sergey Falaleev.
 
The School participants visited Samara University Laboratory of Additive Technologies, the Centre of Aviation Engines History, held a scientific conference, heard reports on the institute’s subject and then discussed possible joint projects at the round table.
 
“The conference has shown that we are moving in the same direction, but herewith we use different tools. So, our guys went deep into the mathematical modelling, conducting researches on optimization of the existing engines, explore the processes occurring in the engine. The German guys brought the reports related to the search on engine design technology of new generation We have set out the direction for adjustment of our work to complement each other's work”, - noted. Sergey Falaleev.
 
The Conference reports covered three promising areas of engine building as well.
 
The first direction is a concept design of the 7th generation engine. We are talking about a hybrid engine - a combination of gas turbine and reciprocating engine. Two companies “MTU” and “Rolls-Royce” offered their vision of such an engine. Doctoral students from the University of Stuttgart compare these concepts and seek critical realization technology. The young scientists from Samara are also connected to thus work. The task is to understand whether it is possible to create such an engine, in principle, in what parameters it will be most effective, whether it is possible to implement it constructively with the existing level of technology and materials. The promising engine of the 7th generation assumes substantially lower fuel consumption, higher parameters of the working process, due to this economic efficiency is improved. But nowadays it is a huge problem to create it with the existing materials and technologies. During the Summer School the participants came to the conclusion that it is possible and set the task to create a working model of the engine at the concept level.
 
“In particular, in the framework of the conference we have visited the Laboratory of Additive Technologies and came to the conclusion that when the grown parts can achieve high strength properties, it will help to realize the idea of a new engine”, - said Andrey Tisarev, Assistant of the Department of Aircraft Engines Construction and Design.
 
The second direction is the work on tasks of the airlines engaged in the engines operation. The problems arising due to dust and dirt in the engine parts, engine cooling - after some time, you can start it again.
 
The third direction is the creation of a virtual engine, simulation of all processes on a virtual test bench.
 
All promising ideas are processed in the context of micro gas turbine engines. “We want to realize our hypothesis on such engines, explore the working processes to implement them on a large engine afterwards. We’ll be unable to transfer the results automatically on the big engine. But it’s much easier to perfect the processes simulation technology on a micro gas turbine engine than on a big one”, - noted Sergey Falaleev.
 
Thus, the participants of the Summer School for engine builders have found a formula for their future work: create a virtual micro gas turbine engine, raise it with the addition technology and, in the future, scale the processes occurring in it on a large size engine.
 
School participant’s comment
 
Meinrad Weisser
Meinrad Weisser, employee of the Aircraft Engine Institute in the University of Stuttgart.
 
- Were your expectations from this Summer School satisfied?
 
- My expectations were more than satisfied! First of all, I would like to point out the excellent organization, as well as an interesting and varied program of the Summer School. I liked the progress in Samara research projects compared to the previous Summer School which took place in Germany. I was also impressed by the unique exhibits of the engines collection and experimental facilities of Samara University. In addition, I personally was happy to meet again friends and acquaintances from the last school year.
 
- Why is it interesting to work together with Samara scientists?
 
- Above all, when working with Samara scientists, I was impressed by their competence in the field of engine theory and design. Samara and Stuttgart universities complement each other very well in these areas of science. Both partners can get benefit and learn from each other through the exchange in the framework of Summer School and work together.
 
Photo: Yekaterina Vinokurova