With the aviation industry in a state of transformation, Liebherr-Aerospace has invested heavily in research and technology to drive developments that will feature in future business aircraft. Transformation is being driven by the need to reduce emissions and also to create digital solutions across the aviation sector.
The emerging advanced air mobility sector is also fueling new technologies. A selection of the company's new systems is being shown this week at NBAA-BACE 2023.
Liebherr has been a driver of the electrification of aircraft for many years, and its display includes systems that decouple onboard power systems from the propulsion system in the pursuit of greater efficiency. Aircraft will be more electric in the future, with electric power replacing bleed air and hydraulic systems.
Among the components are electromagnetic actuators (EMAs) that are derived from those developed for medium to large airliners, but which are sized for business aircraft and helicopter applications. The small EMAs are also being aimed at the advanced air mobility market. Liebherr is also exhibiting an electric motor pump, which together with the EMAs can form the core element of a decentralized hydraulic power supply solution.
Meanwhile, Liebherr is transitioning to a completely model-based enterprise. The use of digital models allows designs to be shared with customers at an early stage so that they can contribute to development, as well as accelerate development times and permit changes to be made in the model before any hardware is produced.
The company is also focused on improving current aircraft and is displaying an air humidification system that can maintain cabin humidity at 20 to 25 percent at room temperature. Typically cabin humidity levels are 5 percent or lower, with the corresponding stress placed on human organs. The system has multi-zone control capability.