Master Thesis: Development of a Gas Turbine Variable Intake System for Hybrid Electric Propulsion

• Application Deadline: Oct. 31, 2024
• Gothenburg
• On-site

Job Description

Are you a final year Master’s student looking for thesis opportunities during the spring semester 2025? Curious about aerospace development at the cutting edge of emerging technologies and new markets? How does a dynamic scale-up company with an international team of experts sound?

Heart Aerospace is looking for one or two master students to join our Propulsion Systems team.

Thesis description

Hybrid Electric propulsion presents unique challenges with respect to management of Gas Turbine operation with respect to starting, icing and component reliability - specifically in dormant phases of operation i.e. when the Electric Propulsion System is active and the Gas Turbine is in standby mode. To enable these unique elements of Gas Turbine operation in-flight, development of a novel variable intake is required to protect Gas Turbine and its airpath while dormant & improve its start reliability when enabled.

The aim of this thesis project is to complete conceptual proposals, down select to single of multiple concepts for detailed design, manufacture and testing, while applying modern system engineering methodologies to construct and analyze the concepts.

The requirements of the system will require an inlet that can range from 100% to 0% intake flow into the gas turbine (with high accuracy), whilst simultaneously providing flow diffusion to increase static pressure at entrance to the Gas Turbine inlet plenum chamber for improved starting at altitude, have inertial separation for debris (stones, rocks from the run way and birds) and ice ingestion avoidance and an active ice management system.

Particular emphasis will be placed on rapid prototype development and testing on the Hybrid Propulsion rig for functional demonstration and development and testing of icing and impact rigs (primarily for birds).

The output of this project will be TRL6 maturity of the system, a flight ready test article and a route to certification agreed with the Gas Turbine supplier.

Master thesis at Heart Aerospace

At Heart Aerospace, we want to strengthen the aerospace and electric mobility competences in our region. Our master thesis program is one way for us to contribute to this development, offering students to work with and be guided by our aerospace specialists from all over the world. We value the collaboration with our master thesis students, and we aim to provide good opportunities for them during the thesis period. Many of our previous students are now part of our team in Gothenburg.

We welcome students who plan to write their thesis in a pair of two as well as students who are working solo.

Thesis terms

The thesis period will start in January 2025 and end in June 2025. The program takes place at our main office in Gothenburg and our students are required to be based here throughout the thesis period. Any relocation needs are not covered by the company and will need to be managed by the student themselves. The master thesis project is part of the student’s ongoing education and will therefore not include any salary from the company.

Selected candidates will be invited for interviews with our team, the interviews are planned to take place beginning of November 2024.

Skills & Requirements

• Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other relevant fields
• Knowledge in control system and electromechanical systems
• Knowledge in system modelling
• Background in systems engineering is a benefit
• Great verbal & written communication skills in English
• Eagerness to work with others
• Passion for aircraft and electrification of the aviation industry

Application

If you are planning to write your thesis with a partner, please make one application each and specify who your partner is in the questionnaire. If you apply alone, write so in the question.

Submit your application and CV in English. Attach your grades under ‘Other’.

Applications will be processed on an ongoing basis, welcome with your application today!

At Heart Aerospace we develop the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, an electric zero-emission range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km. Heart is targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade.