Advanced research facility to support net zero completed

 
Image courtesy Lindum Group 

The Cranfield Power & Propulsion Laboratories (CPPL) add to the University’s large-scale, state-of-the-art research facilities and build on over 50 years of expertise, research and development in systems design, integration and performance.

CPPL, sited next to the airport airside boundary at the centre of the Cranfield campus, gives industry and academia a space for advanced research enabling cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Accelerating aviation’s decarbonisation
Professor Vassilios Pachidis, Head of Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering, said: “Cranfield’s new Power and Propulsion Laboratories (CPPL) will drive the development of new technologies for decarbonising aviation.

“CPPL will focus on the aerodynamic and thermodynamic integration of new power systems with the aircraft. This includes the utilisation of sustainable aviation fuels including hydrogen, electrification and hybridisation and exploring the potential benefits of supercritical CO2 and other ‘unusual’ working fluids for thermal management applications.”

The CPPL facility will be used to train new talent urgently needed by industry, including those enrolled in master’s and PhD programmes at Cranfield, such as The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Aviation.

“CPPL is set to play a key role in driving sustainable growth by delivering innovative solutions with global impact, and securing the UK’s industrial, research and academic leadership,” continued Professor Pachidis.

Work was completed on the building in September, with specialist project equipment now being put in place. A formal opening event for the new facility will take place in November. The main contractor was Lindum Group, project management was by 3CProjects, cost advisor was Gardiner Theobald and the lead designer was Anotherkind.

Developing a hub of hydrogen research
The CH2i project will connect and grow research facilities at the University to unlock the technical challenges around hydrogen-enabled aviation.

This includes the development of the Hydrogen Integration Research Centre, which is under construction, extending an existing facility to host new labs for advanced materials synthesis and testing for hydrogen-based technologies, analytical laboratories and a dedicated innovation area to develop next generation hydrogen pilot plant demonstration, electrolysis, catalyst development and green hydrogen.

CH2i is supported by Research England and partners under the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund and will create the first large-scale hydrogen research hub at a UK airport.