SAFRAN: FIRST RUN OF TECH TP ACHIEVE HYBRID ELECTRIC TURBOPROP DEMONSTRATOR

Safran Helicopter Engines has successfully completed ground tests of a "more-electric" variant of its Tech TP turboprop engine at its Tarnos facility.

ACHIEVE (Advanced mechatronics devices for a novel turboprop electric starter-generator and health monitoring system) is a Clean Sky project coordinated by the UK University of Nottingham and supported by NEMA Ltd and Power System Technology. Within this project, an innovative and more powerful electrical motor-generator has been developed and integrated in the Tech TP propeller and accessory gearbox (PAGB). It allows to drive the propeller electrically, enabling new operating modes such as taxying without using power directly from the main turbine engines or in-flight electric assistance. This saves fuel and reduces noise and emissions, resulting in more sustainable operations.

Tech TP is a technology demonstrator developed as part of the European Clean Sky 2 research program. It features 18% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to similar engines currently in service, as evaluated by Piaggio Aerospace on a virtual 19-seater commuter installation. It is optimized for operations at medium and high altitudes (45,000 feet) and will be particularly easy to operate, thanks to an innovative throttle lever interfaced with a Full-Authority Digital Engine and Propeller Control (FADEPC) computer.

More than 20 partners from eight European countries have contributed to this project.