ELUBSYS

Objectives

The overall objective of project ELUBSYS is to research, develop and validate a new architectural approach towards the design of high performance aircraft lubrication systems with the aim of reducing fuel and oil consumption. The project intends to reach this objective by focusing on four key goals:

1. Reduce engine SFC and the CO2 emissions by:
   • Significantly reducing (target of 60%) the requirement for bleed air from the engine to pressurise the bearing chambers through introduction of new high performance seals;
   • Improving thermal management of housings (and ports) by adapting these to the presence of high performance seals.
2. Reduce the oil quantity rejected overboard by 60%, thus reducing both, the consumption of oil which is a non-renewable energy, and the associated atmospheric pollution (currently 0.3 l/h average oil consumption per engine for a short-haul or a long-haul aircraft), through introduction of high performance brush seals and improvement of the supply pump capability.
3. Optimise the architecture of lubrication systems (taking into account the introduction of high performance brush seals) by reducing their complexity and mass. This will be done by integrating several lubrication functions into one single component and by re-designing other external components.
4. Develop solutions to improve the monitoring of engine oil quality with a particular focus on the anti-coking capabilities of the lubrication system. This will allow higher oil temperatures to be sustained for longer periods of time, and contribute towards higher allowable engine turbine inlet temperatures.