Purdue Sustainable Aviation Symposium 2024

Abstract

NASA Aeronautics is engaging with industry, academia, and other agencies through our Sustainable Flight National Partnership (SFNP) to accomplish the aviation community's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through our collective work in three areas — advanced vehicle technologies, efficient airline operations, and sustainable aviation fuels — we are committed to contributing viable solutions for achieving the extreme challenge of aviation decarbonization. This includes enabling 25- 30 percent energy efficiency improvements in next-generation transports with the capability to utilize 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel and also fly optimal trajectories.

Bio

Dr. James (Jim) Heidmann currently serves as Deputy Director of NASA’s Advanced Air Vehicles Program. In his current role, he leads NASA’s investment in the broad range of advanced air vehicle technologies. Previously he has served as Acting Program Director and has led NASA’s Advanced Air Transport Technology and Transformational Tools & Technologies Projects. Prior to his project and program roles, Jim was Chief of the Turbomachinery and Heat Transfer Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center.

In addition to these management roles, Dr. Heidmann spent 20 years as an Aerospace Research Engineer, publishing over 20 papers and journal articles in the area of turbomachinery aerodynamics and heat transfer. He was elected Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in 2007, Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in 2015, and received the Outstanding Mechanical Engineer (OME) Award from Purdue University School of Mechanical Engineering in 2017. He received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (OLM) in 2024.

Dr. Heidmann received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo in 1986, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1988, and Doctorate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 1997.

Abstract

With many efforts to reduce carbon emissions from commercial aviation showing promise at the component or aircraft level, reducing the environmental impact of aviation—at least through the lens of CO2 emissions—is possible. Many civil aviation organizations have presented notional time-history plots to demonstrate how CO2 emissions from commercial aviation could decrease to reach a future net-zero state. Over the past several years, a team of researchers at Purdue have developed the Fleet-Level Environmental Evaluation Tool to predict how introducing these new technologies, aircraft concepts and alternate energy sources may result in a change in the carbon emissions from commercial aviation.

This system dynamics inspired tool can capture issues like fleet evolution with the introduction of new aircraft and the retirement of old aircraft, changing travel demand including price elasticity resulting from decreased fuel burn and enhanced technologies that impact the cost of flying. Using fleet to assess numerous scenarios highlights that carbon emissions from commercial aviation may not increase as fast as demand for commercial aviation increases; however, scenarios evaluated to date show that it will be difficult to reach net-zero commercial aviation in the near future.

Bio

William A. (Bill) Crossley is the Uhrig & Vournas Head of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Professor at Purdue University, where he has been a member of the faculty since August 1995. His teaching and research interests are in design optimization for aerospace systems and for system-of-system design problems. Recent applications include consideration of environmental impact of aviation and examining future advanced air mobility as part of a transportation system.

Crossley has received numerous teaching awards at the School level. He received the College of Engineering A.A. Potter Best of Engineering Teaching Award in 2007, was inducted into the Purdue University Book of Great Teachers in 2013, and received the Charles B. Murphy Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2022.

Crossley is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and served as chair of the AIAA Aircraft Design Technical Committee. He was an Executive Committee member for the Council of Engineering Systems Universities and served a term as Chair of CESUN. He led the formation of the System of Systems Signature Area in the College of Engineering at Purdue that provided the impetus for today’s Purdue Systems Collaboratory. He is also the director for the Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability (PEGASAS), the FAA’s Center of Excellence for General Aviation.

Abstract

The drive to sustainability in all sectors is clear and urgent and civil aerospace is no exception. Rolls Royce is playing a leading role in introducing and validating Hydrogen. In this lecture, the overall strategy and ambition of Rolls Royce with regard to sustainability will be covered followed by an explanation of what that means for the combustion section. The talk will cover the strategy and validation programmes for Hydrogen. The differences and commonalities between aviation and industrial gas turbine hydrogen combustion will be discussed with the purpose of answering one central question "What will an aerospace Hydrogen combustion sub-system look like?" In answering the question, the results of a recent Hydrogen rig and engine test campaigns will be presented and discussed.

Bio

Kenneth Young is an Engineering Fellow of Rolls Royce plc. and has been with the company for 26 years. He is also a visiting professor of Loughborough University. His specialism is in combustion and turbines, where he has worked in civil aviation and power generation. He is currently responsible for research and technology in the gas turbine hot section where, amongst other things, he leads the technical direction of combustion of sustainable fuel, in particular, focusing on the necessary changes in the core of the engine.

Abstract

The aeronautics industry has been challenged on many fronts to increase flight efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease dependence on traditional hydrocarbon fuels. Recently, the aviation sector has surpassed a CO2 production rate of 1 billion metric tons per year, which without new interventions in policy, technology, and business practices, will further increase alongside the growing air-transport market. This talk will provide a background that defines the key challenges of sustainable aviation, describe technological developments that enable improvements towards environmentally responsible air transportation, and forecast a vision for future generations of aircraft systems. A case study is provided, focusing on the integration of hydrogen systems for zero-emissions aircraft operations.

Bio

Dr. Phillip J. Ansell is an Associate Professor and Allen Ormsbee Faculty Scholar in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Aviation (CSA) at Illinois and the Director of the Center for High-Efficiency Electrical Technologies for Aircraft (CHEETA).

He is an AIAA Associate Fellow, and in recognition for his efforts he has been granted the AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award, Young Investigator Awards from the Army Research Office and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Science category. Prof. Ansell earned his Ph.D. (2013) and M.S. (2010) in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and his B.S. (2008) in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State University.

Abstract

As global initiatives aim to limit temperature increases and mitigate climate change impacts, the aviation industry faces a crucial challenge in reducing its carbon footprint. With CORSIA targeting emissions capped at 85% of 2020 levels and the aviation sector striving for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the need for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and innovative technology becomes paramount.

This presentation navigates the complexities and uncertainties in achieving sustainable aviation objectives. Assessing the evolving landscape, it delves into the potential of SAF, emphasizing recent milestones such as the successful validation of Rolls-Royce engines compatible with 100% SAF, demonstrated in the world's first commercial transatlantic flight using entirely sustainable aviation fuel.

Furthermore, the presentation explores the prospects and challenges of hydrogen-powered aircraft. Addressing technical considerations, including water vapor generation, NOx emissions, storage, and performance limitations, it reflects on Rolls-Royce's hydrogen technology milestones and the ambitious timelines for potential aircraft adoption.

While acknowledging the promising strides in electric-powered and hydrogen fuel cell aircraft for short-range operations, the focus remains on larger, longer-range aircraft that necessitate the synergy of sustainable aviation fuels and gas turbines for substantial climate impact mitigation.

Notably, the analysis underscores the substantial efficiency gains achieved over decades in gas turbine technology, propelled by advancements in aerodynamics, materials, and computational capabilities. It highlights the significant role of UltraFan technology, exemplifying a step change in engine efficiency and environmental characteristics, promising substantial reductions in fuel consumption, emissions, and noise.

Bio

Raul Vazquez is an Engineering Fellow in Aerodynamics and the Chief of Aerothermal Technology at Rolls-Royce. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and serves as Chairman of the European Turbomachinery Society (Euroturbo). In academia, Raul is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London. Previously, he spent over a decade as an Associate Professor in Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Raul has been an invited lecturer on aerodynamics and fluid dynamics of gas turbines at several prestigious universities and research institutions, and he has delivered keynote speeches at numerous international conferences

Abstract

The talk will cover research performed in a number of EU projects, primarily ULTIMATE and EnableH2 but also the more recent MINIMAL project. The need for new aviation fuels is described from an aggressive technology introduction perspective showing the global warming impact of emission scenarios. Performance estimates for hydrogen aircraft concepts across short-, medium-, and long-range operation and its relation to assumptions on fuel tank technology are presented. Furthermore, results on heat management for cryogenic fuel systems will be presented focusing on propulsion system integration and heat exchanger conceptual design. As a closing to the speech, the TechForH2 excellence center that Chalmers University leads will be described.

Bio

Professor Grönstedt’s research focus on aeronautical engineering, primarily in the propulsion area. He is a professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, performing activities centered around enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of aero engines. Key research interests are the development of advanced engine architectures, such as intercooled engines, open rotor concepts and new ways to integrate heat management. His work also includes the exploration of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel alternative and its integration of hydrogen fuel systems into aircraft. Tomas is director of the hydrogen excellence center TechForH2, focusing on hydrogen technologies for heavy transport. Tomas is also recipient of the CISB Swedish Professors Chair of Aeronautics in Honor of Peter Wallenberg Sr and a member of the executive committee of SARC, the Swedish Aerospace Research Centre.

Abstract

The aviation industry, which accounts for approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, could potentially contribute a greater fraction of global CO2 emissions due, in part, to the estimated increase in customer demand for global air travel over the next three decades. Moreover, persistent contrails and aviation induced cloudiness may contribute an additional 1% of CO2-equivalent climate impacts.

Bio-derived and electricity-derived sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are key levers for achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Advanced aircraft engine technologies and alternative fuels may provide additional mitigation of non-CO2 climate impacts. Finally, advanced aircraft propulsion systems that fully leverage the unique characteristics of hydrogen may reduce the climate impacts of aviation while accounting for the cross-sectoral demands for low carbon intensity electricity in the future.

Bio

Vince Sidwell is the Director of Advanced Concepts and Technologies at Pratt & Whitney. He is responsible for conceptual engine design, technology portfolio management, and technology collaboration, including recent designs and technology options aimed at reduced climate impact.

Vince joined Pratt & Whitney in 1996 and has served in a variety of positions within Engineering at Pratt & Whitney, supporting both commercial and military products. He holds a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT.

Abstract

There is evidence suggesting that condensation trails (contrails) are as important as carbon dioxide for climate change. This presentation will describe some of the evidence for climate change and how the radiation forcing function is applied to contrails. An introduction to the science of psychrometrics (mixture of water and air) will be provided and it will show how to calculate an aircraft engines contrail characteristics known as the contrail factor and excess water. The contrail factor explains why some aircraft will form a contrail while another aircraft type operating in the same conditions will not. Equally important to climate is understanding why some contrails are short-lived and others will persist for hours and migrate into high altitude cirrus clouds that influence climate.

The remainder of the presentation will describe some the efforts GE Aerospace and others are taking to investigate, model, measure and mitigate the effect of commercial aviation contrails on climate.

Bio

Mr. Gary Wollenweber is Consulting Engineer-Infrared and Thermal Design for GE Aerospace's Engineering Division in Cincinnati OH.  Mr. Wollenweber’s primary responsibilities include engine infrared and visible signature, suppression design, technology integration, analytic assessment, measurements, leadership and mentoring of product teams.

Mr. Wollenweber has 45 years of experience in aircraft engine thermal design and has specialized on exhaust nozzle cooling, signature control technology and contrail characteristics of aircraft engines since 1984.  During this time, Mr. Wollenweber has led the GE’s contrail prediction and measurement teams and consulted on teams led by other organizations and contractors. Mr. Wollenweber has developed and demonstrated in-flight methodology and instrumentation sets to accurately measure contrail factors (or propulsive efficiency) of turbojet, and low-to-high bypass ratio turbofan engines. Mr.  Wollenweber was granted US10392117B2 patent for an engine mounted TDLAS hygrometer to measure instantaneous total (vapor and ice) humidity.

Mr. Wollenweber was an adjunct lecturer for the Georgia Tech Professional Education Infrared and Visible Signature and Suppression short course from 2005 to 2019. Mr. Wollenweber has taught infrared signature and suppression tutorials for academic conferences and DoD organizations. 

Mr. Wollenweber has been a member of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Combat Survivability Executive Board since 2000.  Mr. Wollenweber has been chairman of the Combat Survivability Education Committee since 2003.  In that role he has been member of the Symposium Program Committee and has chaired the Tutorial Sessions at the annual NDIA Aircraft Survivability Symposium, traditionally held at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA. Mr. Wollenweber received the NDIA Combat Survivability Division’s Robert H. Gormley Leadership Award in 2019. Mr. Wollenweber received the 2024 AIAA Survivability Award for  outstanding achievement or contribution in design, analysis, implementation, and education of survivability in an aerospace system.

Mr. Wollenweber has served on the technical program committee of the MSS/IRIS Specialty Group on Infrared Countermeasures (formerly IRIA-IRIS/ERIM International, Inc.) from 1997 to 2019. Mr. Wollenweber received the MSS Goodell-Pollock award for dedicated service in 2022.

Mr. Wollenweber has Physics (Wabash College, 1974) and Mechanical Engineering (BS-Purdue 1975, MS-Purdue, 1977) degrees and is a registered Professional Engineer (Ohio #47430). 

Mr. Wollenweber has been a Trustee for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council, one of 52 community council recognized by the City of Cincinnati for thirty years.

Mr. Wollenweber is married to Author and University of Cincinnati Professor Cynthia Crane.