LEIA

LEIA (Large scale Integration demonstrator of hybrid electrical Architecture) is a Clean Aviation research initiative focused on maturing technologies for future short-medium-range (SMR) more hybrid/electric aircraft.

Core Mission:

The project aims to design and integrate non-propulsive electrical systems to improve engine off-take efficiency and enable flexible energy management while minimizing overall system weight. It serves as a fundamental enabler for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing technologies for climate mitigation.

Key Objectives:

• Architecture Selection: Validate a future-focused more/hybrid electric non-propulsive energy (NPE) architecture.
• Technology Maturity: Achieve Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL5) for an integrated energy provision system by 2027.
• Certification Readiness: Advance critical technologies to Certification Readiness Level 4 (CRL4) and identify a roadmap to CRL6.
• Integration Strategy: Establish interface specifications and develop advanced energy and thermal management strategies.

Leia logo

The objective is to develop a more/hybrid electric non-propulsive energy (NPE) architecture for the future short-medium-range (SMR) aircraft, ultimately aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in aviation.

Specific technical hurdles include:

• Increasing Power Demand: Managing a disruptive transformation in energy management to support electrical power demands.
• System Integration: Transitioning high-power systems from pneumatic and hydraulic sources to electrical ones while minimizing overall system weight and sizing.
• High Voltage Challenges: Addressing new challenges associated with the introduction of high-voltage networks, such as network stability, power quality, and protection against partial discharge or arcing.
• Thermal Management: Demonstration of efficient absorption and management of transient thermal loads generated by high-power electrical functions without affecting passenger comfort or the overall aircraft thermal balance.

The LEIA (Large scale Integration demonstrator of hybrid electrical Architecture) project provides a systems engineering approach to validate and integrate novel technologies.

Key components of the solution include:

• Disruptive Architecture: Selecting and validating a more electric/hybrid electric NPE architecture that allows for optimized aircraft platform-level electrical power propulsion.
• Technological "Bricks": Developing and maturing critical hardware and software components, including:
  • Energy Sources: batteries and high-power generators.
  • Distribution: High-voltage primary and secondary power distribution units (PDUs) and advanced wiring systems (EWIS).
  • Management: A software-based Energy Supervisor function to coordinate and optimize energy usage across all systems.
• Ground Test Demonstrator (GTD1): Creating a physical modular platform to perform end-to-end integration of NPE technologies from provisioners to consumers, aiming for TRL5 (Technology Readiness Level 5) by 2027.
• Virtual & Remote Testing: Utilizing multi-physics simulation platforms and "connected system testing" to link remote components from different facilities, reducing costs and risks during physical integration.

The implementation of the LEIA project's technologies is expected to yield several significant environmental and industrial benefits:

• Emissions Reduction: The non-propulsive energy system is a core enabler to contribute to a 30% CO2 emissions reduction at the SMR aircraft level compared to the 2020 state-of-the-art reference aircraft.
• Certification Readiness: Advancing critical technologies to CRL4 (Certification Readiness Level 4) and providing a roadmap to CRL6, facilitating faster market entry and regulatory approval.
• European Autonomy: Strengthening the EU supply chain and maintaining a leading global position in sustainable aviation technologies.
• Knowledge Transfer: Creating new high-value engineering skills and capacities within the European workforce for designing and maintaining next-generation aircraft.

Co-funded by the EU

Clean Aviation

The project is supported by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and its members. 

Funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101255065. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.