To reduce climate impact of aviation, decarbonisation is a major challenge. Current combustion chambers are burning hydrocarbon fuels, such as kerosene or more recently emerging SAF products. Hydrogen is also considered today as a promising energy carrier but the burning of hydrogen creates radically new challenges which need to be understood and anticipated. HESTIA specifically focuses on increasing the scientific knowledge of the hydrogen-air combustion of future hydrogen fuelled aero-engines. The related physical phenomena will be evaluated through the execution of fundamental experiments. This experimental work will be closely coupled to numerical activities which will adapt or develop models and progressively increase their maturity so that they can be integrated into industrial CFD codes. Different challenges are to be addressed in HESTIA project in a wide range of topics: - Improvement of the scientific understanding of hydrogen-air turbulent combustion: preferential diffusion of hydrogen, modification of turbulent burning velocity, thermoacoustics, NOx emissions, adaptation of optical diagnostics; - Assessment of innovative injection systems for H2 optimized combustion chamber: flashback risk, lean-blow out, stability, NOx emission minimisation, ignition; - Improvement of CFD tools and methodologies for numerical modelling of H2 combustion in both academic and industrial configurations. To this end, HESTIA gathers 17 universities and research centres as well as the 6 European aero-engine manufacturers to significantly prepare in a coherent and robust manner for the future development of environmentally friendly combustion chambers.

H2POWRD seeks to harness hydrogen's potential with rotating detonation combustion (RDC) integrated with a gas turbine (RDGT). Rotating detonation is a paradigm breaking technology that revolutionizes the thermodynamic process to be significantly more efficient. This efficiency leap also introduces new challenges in the form of unsteady, transonic flow at the turbine inlet and higher heat transfer. Building on insights of a previous ITN (INSPIRE), which underscored the potential benefits of RDC, H2POWRD focuses on efficiently harnessing the unsteady outflow from the combustion of H2 in an RDGT. This project revolves around three primary areas of investigation: (1) delving into the fundamental aspects of the combustion, encompassing reactant injection, mixing, detonation propagation, and heat transfer; (2) optimizing the transition region between the combustor and the turbine to tailor Mach number, pressure, and velocity fluctuations for turbine compatibility; and (3) refining the aerodynamics of rotors and stators to maximize efficiency within relevant design philosophies and Mach number regimes. Employing a comprehensive approach, H2POWRD combines experimental and numerical methods to gain profound insights into both individual component physics and their intricate interactions. The project's outcomes are expected to deepen our understanding of critical scientific questions surrounding the unique features of RDC detonation waves, exhaust flow conditioning for targeted properties, and the design of turbines adept at handling heightened levels of unsteadiness. Beyond scientific inquiry, H2POWRD will showcase the technology's potential and delineate pathways toward realizing higher efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. Moreover, H2POWRD is committed to fostering sustainable innovation in research and in a training program designed to prepare the next generation of researchers with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of RDGT technology.

One of the specific impacts of CBE JU programme is to replace at least 30% of fossil-based raw materials with bio-based and biodegradable ones by 2030, potential scope for bioplastics manufacturing processes is foreseen in the coming decade. The urgent need of increasing sustainability has also affected flame retardants. During the last decades, the number of studies based on developing bio-based flame retardants has increased considerably together with their incorporation in formulations based on bio-based polymers. However, the use of bio-based flame retardants with bio-based polymers has not been properly covered. The THERMOFIRE project aims to be a pioneer in this field, consequently, the flame retardancy of the 100% bio-based composites will be deeply developed and investigated. Fire retardancy is a key property of materials used for applications in the automotive, aerospace and textile sectors due to the need to minimize fire risk and meet safety requirements. In the THERMOFIRE project up to 100% bio-based polymers will be reinforced with different natural fibers (e.g., regenerated cellulose from wood and commercial flax) and bio-based flame retardants aiming at giving excellent flame retardancy to the final bio-based thermoplastic (TP) composites. The innovation of THERMOFIRE relies on the development of high-performance composites with a 20% reduction in weight and 15% in cost while maintaining the required levels of safety suitable for applications under stringent operating conditions. THERMOFIRE project represents a genuine opportunity to remove Europe’s dependence on imports of fossil-based polymers for stringent operating conditions in the aerospace, automotive and textile sectors.

H2-based fuel cell systems (FCs) are a promising solution to power aircrafts without emitting CO2 or NOx and thus have the potential to strongly reduce aviation emissions and pave the way to climate neutrality. Embedded in aircrafts, FCs can supply non-propulsive and propulsive energy without pollutant emission, reduced noise emission and attractive energy efficiency. The Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LT-PEM) technology (incl. Membrane Electrode Assembly - MEA) emerging from the automotive industry is of great interest for aviation, but thermal management issues are still be solved. Operated below 100°C, they exhibit attractive power density but are incompatible with aircraft environment due to poor heat rejection. Also, current High Temperature FCs operated around 160°C are not at the expected level of performance for aviation, despite interesting heat rejection performances. The development of a new-generation MEA, working at temperature above 120°C and with performances equivalent to current LT-PEM MEA is the key to unlock FC applications for aviation. NIMPHEA aims at developing - based on the development and/or optimisation of its components: catalyst layer, membrane and gas diffusion layer - a new-generation HT MEA compatible with aircraft environment and requirements, considering a system size of 1.5 MW and contributing to higher level FC targets: a power density of 1.25 W/cm² at nominal operating temperature comprised between 160°C-200°C. MEA components’ upscale synthesis and assembly process will be assessed by identifying process parameters and improved through an iterative process with lab-scale MEA tests. This disruptive MEA technology will be finally validated in a representative scale prototype (165-180 cm²) embodied in a single-cell. Simultaneously, LCA, LCC, eco-efficiency assessment and intrinsic hazard analysis will be performed to validate the MEA development. Finally, a TRL evaluation will be conducted to validate TRL4.

Refractory materials are key enablers for high temperature industries such as Iron & Steelmaking (I&S). Refractories are sophisticated materials designed and optimized to sustain severe operation conditions inducing complex combinations of thermo-mechano-chemical damage mechanisms. Nevertheless, refractory material consumption has been reduced over the last 50 years from more than 35 kg of refractories per ton of steel to about 10 kg/t in the European steel industry, while keeping safety of the utmost importance. The movement of the I&S industry towards Net-Zero emissions and digitalized processes through disruptive, breakthrough technologies will be achieved through the use of Hydrogen. The biggest challenge for the refractory industry is to continue to meet the performance expectations while, at the same time, moving to a more sustainable production direction. The complexity and urgency of these technology changes, highlighted by the European Green Deal, requires a Concerted European Action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories (CESAREF). A consorted and coordinated European network with steel, refractory, raw material producers and key academic poles will tackle the following key topics: • Efficient use of raw materials and recycling, • Microstructure design for increased sustainability, • Anticipation of hydrogen steelmaking, • Energy efficiency and durability. While creating new developments in the I&S and refractory industries, the network will train highly skilled doctoral candidates capable of communicating and disseminating their acquired knowledge. CESAREF will create a core team across the European refractory value chain, accelerating the drive towards the European refractory industries push towards sustainable materials and processes, as well as Net-Zero emission Steel production. This will help to create and secure sustainable employment in the European refractory and I&S industries.