Variable Speed Rotorcraft Drive System

01.07.2015 - 31.10.2018
Research funding project
Today¿s rotorcraft are operated only on fixed rotor speed. Modern studies figured out that using a variable rotor speed technology increases the efficiency and extends the flight envelope of rotorcraft. With this technology rotorcrafts can be designed and optimized on the operational area and not only on a single point. Such a technology requires preferably a gear box that supports a variable speed transmission to the rotor shaft using a constant engine shaft speed, driven by the turbine. Furthermore a rotor system must be invented that has the ability to be operated in a range of rotational speeds. High significance can be given to the general applicability of this technology. It can be applied to any rotorcraft architecture, e.g. Tandem-, Tilt-, Coaxial-, Compound- or conventional configuration. The decision criteria is the weight increase relative to the power increase. If this is positive the system can be used. This research program intends to give answers as well about the applicability in terms of decision criteria, such as the performance increase relative to the increase of the gearbox weight. Zoerkler and the Universities of Technology form Vienna and Munich took the challenge to design such a system and together launch the project VARI-SPEED. VARI-SPEED took the possibility to be a combined project form LuFo Germany and TAKE OFF Austria. The consolidation of those two is an ideal base for the realization of this research project on an international layer. The Project VARI-SPEED has the aim to invent a drive train system for rotorcrafts which enables variable rotor speeds. Knowledge and technologies must be developed and collected to create the fundament for a technology realization in future prototypes. Besides reviewing of concepts and developing technologies for a variable speed rotorcraft, analysis of possible risks and errors of the technology is also a part of the project. This allows an evaluation of possible applications of the technology in future rotorcrafts. Thus, to enable this applicability, the certification specifications and standards are considered during the whole design process.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Grant funds

  • FFG - Österr. Forschungsförderungs- gesellschaft mbH (National) Group Thematic programme Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) Call identifier 5325981 Specific program Take Off

Research focus

  • Beyond TUW-research focus: 100%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
übersetzungsvariabler Antriebsstrang für Hubschraubervariable ratio transmission system for rotorcrafts
drehzahlvraiabler rotorvariable rotor speed
ökonomischer Hubschraubereconomic helicopter
steigerung der Einsatzenveloppe von Hubschraubernincreased flight envelope of helicopters
Hochgeschwindigkeits Hubschrauberhigh speed rotorcraft

External partner

  • Technische Universität München - Lehrstuhl für Hubschraubertechnologie
  • ZOERKLER GEARS GmbH & Co KG

Publications