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Safran unveils HIPEX, its new heat exchanger for aircraft engines
Business
Safran Aero Boosters will be presenting HIPEX, its new range of high-performance heat exchangers based on a revolutionary aerodynamic design, at the Paris Air Show. Thanks to their curved or adjustable shape, their aerodynamic drag is halved compared with current models, while delivering the same thermal performance.
Most of the cooling in an aircraft engine is provided by air-oil heat exchangers situated between the engine and the nacelle. Due to the way they are currently designed, heat exchangers are difficult to integrate into the engines and generate drag in the airflow, which has an impact on the engine's fuel consumption.
Drawing Leveraging on its experience in designing oil systems for engines, and with the support of the Walloon Region through its WINGS technological innovation partnership1, Safran Aero Boosters has developed single-block exchangers that are compact, more aerodynamic and easier to integrate into engines due to their optimized design. Manufactured using 3D metal printing, they can be adapted to all types of current or future engines.
The initial tests – first carried out on a Safran Aero Boosters test bench in Liège in Belgium and then on a civil-aviation engine during a ground test campaign – demonstrated the performance of the HIPEXTM in operational conditions.
"Thanks to their totally innovative shape, our new exchangers will save up to 1% in fuel consumption on certain engines. You can imagine the significant reductions that can be made in terms of the environmental footprint and costs. For example, our product could reduce the CO2 emissions on a long-haul aircraft by 4,000 tons and reduce costs by more than a million dollars over the plane's lifetime."
1 WINGS (Walloon Innovations for Green Skies) is a technological innovation partnership launched by the Walloon Region to support the Walloon aeronautical sector through its ecological transition.
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Raphaëlle WIDART
Safran Aero Boosters
+32 496 13 63 98
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 76,800 employees and sales of 15,3 billion euros in 2021 and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes research and development programs to maintain the environmental priorities of its R&T and innovation roadmap.
Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
Safran Aero Boosters designs, develops and manufactures low-pressure compressors, equipment and test cells for aerospace propulsion. The company's products are on board the majority of commercial aircraft in service as well as Europe's Ariane launch vehicle. Based in Liège (Belgium), Safran Aero Boosters has two subsidiaries in the United States and employs 1,700 people.
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