Current Projects
H2-TCF
Full title of the project:
H2-TCF – Aerothermal Investigation of an Aggressive Turbine Center Frame under Hydrogen Combustion Conditions
Program:
Mobilitätssysteme / LUFO Ausschreibung 2022, FFG
Project partners:
Technische Universität Graz | Bionic Surface Technologies GmbH
About:
H2-TCF is an experimental research campaign focused on advancing the understanding of heat transfer mechanisms and purge film cooling in a turbine center frame (TCF) exposed to aerodynamically aggressive flow conditions intensified by hydrogen combustion. With increasing turbine inlet temperatures and more pronounced hot streaks resulting from hydrogen-based fuels, the turbine center frame is projected to become a thermally critical component in future aero engines. H2-TCF investigates these thermal loads and cooling behaviors to support safe and efficient integration of hydrogen combustion technologies in aviation engines.
Building on insights from previous work (e.g., Opti-TCF), the project uses a modular test rig equipped with configurable upstream inserts and a modular hot-streak generator to replicate complex turbine exhaust flow conditions. By systematically introducing modular components, H2-TCF isolates and analyzes individual flow phenomena, enabling a detailed understanding of heat transfer processes and the interaction between hot streaks and purge film cooling air. The resulting dataset will be used to calibrate and validate CFD models, creating reliable predictive tools for future turbine designs and assessing whether existing TCF geometries are suitable for hydrogen-intensified hot-streak conditions.
H2-TCF represents a novel international effort in which state-of-the-art TCF testing concurrently addresses modular inflow conditions, purge cooling effects and hot-streak interactions, making it a critical step toward hydrogen-capable turbine components.
InnoCoat4Plasma
Full title of the project:
InnoCoat4Plasma – Bio-based Plasma Coatings on Micro- and Nano-Structured Thermoplastic Surfaces
Program:
M-ERA.NET
Project partners:
Wood K plus GmbH | Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) | INMOLD A/S | BIONIC Surface Technologies GmbH | PEAK Technology A/S
About:
InnoCoat4Plasma develops a sustainable and digitally optimized process chain for bio-based plasma-polymerized coatings on micro- and nano-structured thermoplastic surfaces. The project combines renewable precursor formulations, atmospheric-pressure plasma deposition technologies and advanced CFD-based multiscale modelling to enable controlled film formation and selective micro-structuring.
Bio-based pre-polymers and functional fillers with a biomass content above 70% are formulated for atmospheric plasma polymerization and applied to bio-based or recycled structured foils produced via high-resolution imprinting and roll-to-roll replication. A central innovation of the project is the integration of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling to simulate plasma processes, aerosol transport, nozzle geometries and droplet–surface interactions. This digital optimization approach enables precise micro-structuring and conformal coatings with validated predictive accuracy.
The developed coating technologies are demonstrated in two application fields: microfluidic structures for controlled droplet and emulsion generation, and antimicrobial riblet surfaces for drag reduction and biofilm mitigation in industrial processing environments. By combining sustainable materials, plasma engineering and digital process modelling, InnoCoat4Plasma establishes a scalable route toward environmentally responsible, high-performance functional surfaces.