Perspective of the Institute of Propulsion Technology

Kurzfassung

The talk presents the perspective of the DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology on the future of aircraft propulsion in the context of three major transformative forces: (1) the goal of achieving climate-neutral aviation by 2050, (2) the ambitious time-to-market objectives derived from this goal, and (3) the need for profitability and affordability of new technologies. We anticipate that propulsion technologies will diversify, but gas turbines will remain the central technology. While introducing climate-compatible energy carriers, such as SAF and hydrogen, is a priority, significant improvements in gas turbine-based propulsion are still necessary. These improvements can be achieved by exploiting the interactions between engine modules and system integration aspects. Rapid product development will be facilitated by unsteady design methods and a collaborative Virtual Engine approach. Combining high-TRL testing with innovative optical measurement techniques will further accelerate technology development.