Military Adaptive Cooling and Compression Engine (MACCE)

Purpose and goal

The project MACCE (Military Adaptive Cooling and Compression Engine) aims to provide a basis for concept design and selection of an engine for a future combat aircraft. The project team will evaluate variable flow paths in cooling and compression processes, which will improve the engine-aircraft integration and contributes to generation of thrust, mechanical, electrical secondary power and cooling for aircraft and engine systems. The project will transfer the partners´ results from studies of cooling systems and recuperation of heat from commercial to military engines.

Expected effects and result

The project will design, analyze and quantify the benefit of variable flows and variable cooling to reach Technology Readiness Level 2. Compression and cooling systems will be evaluated using 3D CFD and thermomechanical analysis. An effect of the project is to reinforce competence in the areas propulsion, power generation, energy management and aircraft-engine integration. The participating companies will improve their evaluation of novel engine architectures impact on aircraft mission performance. Competence on civil engines is transferred to the military organisation.

Planned approach and implementation

The work will center on a PhD student project at Chalmers aircraft engine team, matched with studies at GKN´s Global engine Technology Center in Trollhättan. The project will iterate on a concept model of the engine and aircraft in four work packages: flight performance for stealth aircraft, variable compression systems, variable cooling and power extraction, and mission optimization. Modelling will be based on the GESTPAN engine simulation software developed at Chalmers and GKN, and commercial tools such as Pacelab for aircraft performance.