Technological development programs

For a company that bases its success on the technological level of its products in an increasingly global competitive environment, it is essential to invest in research and technological development (R & T), or in the study and demonstration of technologies for the improvement of its products,

• Environmental Impact
• new architectures
• safety
• competitiveness

In this context focused increasingly on knowledge and innovation, is Avio.
The research-oriented technologies to provide ready-to-use, is focused on products:

• Turbine
• Transmission systems
• Combustor

The responsibility of entire engine modules and subsystems, from design to product support service, has gradually increased over the past decade, especially in the field of transmission systems, turbines, combustion systems and systems "mechatronic" engine with more and more "intelligent" and designed on the basis of technology coming from other sectors (eg nanotechnology, embedded systems).



And in the three classes of engines for the civilian market:

• Large body
• Narrow body
• Regional / Business
• Helicopter

Areas of research are also carried out by the military and naval.
The activities are conducted wide-ranging, through a continuous and focused involvement of resources through the various stages of development and technological innovation:

• basic research;
• industrial research;
• pre-competitive research;

exploiting the skills where they already exist or develop in collaboration with partners with proven experience.
The activities also aim to consolidate permanently a "network" of skills, nationally and internationally, on what are termed the "enabling technologies" and assume the role of axes of technological improvement. The management of the poles of this network for Avio is a key driver for innovation.

The main objective of the research Avio, currently involved in more than 40 research programs in most areas of technology, is to develop and demonstrate enabling technologies on the new generation engines, including radical configurations Open-type rotor and Geared Turbofan (GTF), which will come into service in the next decade and will have to comply with environmental regulations while maintaining a high level of competitiveness.

The commitment Avio in R & T is increasing both by the volume of business done inside, and through a growing involvement partners.

The key fronts for Research in Avio are two:

• product innovation that seeks to preserve and enhance competitiveness, providing customer benefits increasingly high cost of life increasingly content;
• process innovation that, thanks to modern computer technology offers the opportunity to minimize the costs of product development.

The research focused on the product are divided into themes (turbines, transmissions, combustion chambers, Mechatronics, innovative materials, tools integrated design and simulation, new systems of production), linked to products of strategic development in the medium to long term.
The projects are carried out at European, national and in collaboration with partners, the individual disciplines of research (aerodynamics, heat exchange, structural integrity, noise, etc..) Are manned by specialists of high-level operating transversely on research programs .



As part of European cooperation programs, in which Avio participates as a partner, being among the other member of the management Committee (EIMG) continuing the program activities of the 6th Framework Program.



The European research programs are intended to demonstrate the target ACARE 2020, very ambitious for the engine compartment:

• -20% CO2 emissions
• -80% NOx emissions
• -18 Db equivalent to the perceived noise

The programs, both of most basic level or integrated, aim to reach a technological level (TRL), development of appropriate technologies at a higher level (demonstrators).


As for the product turbine, continued the activities of the Integrated Project VITAL (Environmentally Friendly Aero Engine) launched in 2005 by the 6th Framework Program. In 2007 continued the activities of calculation and bench testing of new technologies for high-efficiency turbines, reduction of air pollution and weight.
The objective of the project to be pursued by the end of 2008, is the loss of 12-15 dB more equivalent and 7% in CO2 emissions compared to previous technologies.



On the combustion product, has continued the activity of the integrated project NEWAC (New Aero Concepts), launched in 2006 and focused on large-scale demonstration of new technologies of the "core" engine (high-pressure compressor, combustion chambers).
Avio is responsible for the first time of one of the major sub-projects on the study of new technology for combustion.
In particular Avio will design, will build and will test to a bench a combustion chamber at low combustion emissions (Ultra Low NOx, -80%), with innovative injection systems. During the 2007 has been carry out the concept design of the combustion chamber. The research project has also reached the first milestone on the evidence of burning low / medium pressure of the innovative injection system.
The results have confirmed at the time the potential of killing of the system respect to the target of the project (65%).



As for the collaborative programs with partners, continues the work of EVNERT program in cooperation with Pratt & Withney, for the construction of a transmission system for the low-pressure compressor under an innovative architecture called Geared motor-Fan (GTF). This engine configuration, which allows the compressor to operate at lower rpm, would reduce noise by 17%, consumption of 15% and the cost of the life cycle of 20% compared to 2000 baseline.

In domestic programs are being carried out plurennial research programs and multidisciplinary where Avio is most often head-row.



Avio in 2007 has been selected by the engineer in Europe to participate in the program called Clean Sky JTI (Joint Technology Initiatives). This program is structured as an integrated technology platform, comprising 6 macro-areas (Large aircraft, regional, helicopters, engines, systems and environmentally friendly design) and deliver to carry out of technology demonstrators of large scale (including flying). Is in initiating phase the formation of a consortium with the European Community and the start of activities is planned from 2008.
Avio will participate as partners of the first level (associated partner inside associated platforms Rolls Royce and Safran) and has in the course trading activities for the development of technologies for turbine products, transmissions and combustion chambers.

Under the development plan research company, a key role is held by the Research Center of Turin, node of excellence within the national network.