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Better Electrical systems for future travel
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Environment
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 New electric systems are destined to increase the manoeuvrability and reduce the noise created by ships, and reduce the weight and cost of future civil aircraft, according to Rolls-Royce (RR) experts.
Dr. Mike Howse, director of RR engineering and technology, has just given a glimpse of the future for the marine and aerospace industries in a paper presented to a conference of the United Kingdom Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) at Bath University in west England.
 He predicted that both engines and aircraft will be new application areas for power electrical technologies, adding: "These developments will be vital in delivering a step change and substantial growth in two sectors - aerospace and marine - that have increasingly demanding requirements."
Dr. Howse said that in order to achieve the expected growth in both the marine and aerospace sectors, new technologies will be required from the industry .He explained: "Only through strategic development of electric technologies will the industry ensure that the products of tomorrow deliver the capability required by the customer. Without these, there is a risk that the more-electric vision will remain just that, a vision."
 In the case of ships he said electric systems will allow greater flexibility in the location of gas turbine generators which will drive electric motors attached to the propellers. He continued: "These changes will save money, increase manoeuvrability and reduce noise across both commercial and naval sectors and a wide range of vessel types.
"For aircraft the new systems will work by way of a fan shaft generator which will produce the bulk of the electrical power. Electric starting should replace traditional air starter systems and the oil system could eventually be entirely deleted, reducing weight considerably. Electrical systems will also improve passenger comfort
and significantly reduce complexity and redundancy," said Dr
Howse.
 Rolls-Royce is already heavily involved in what are known as more electric technology research programmes, including the European Union-funded power optimised aircraft programme that was introduced in February this year. The latter programme will lead to the testing of advanced electrical power systems on an aero engine and an imitation aircraft test facility in 2004.
A RR spokesman continued: "Over the next five to 10 years there will be many long-term research and development programmes that will require funding before the
 technological improvements in marine and aerospace can be realised and reach the market."
Electrical systems are already beginning to take over new roles in aerospace such as replacing manual operation of flaps and other moving surfaces. Electrical sensors are also replacing many more traditional methods of instrumentation.
Source: London Press Service, web site at:
http: www.london.press.net
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