Ceramic 3D printing company Lithoz is embarking on a new project funded by the EU: the TRIATHLON. The project brings together universities, industrial designers, technologies suppliers into the same consortium to unite skills towards the development of disruptive approaches to design more robust, low-maintenance, low-emission, and highly responsive hydrogen-electric powertrains for megawatt class aircraft.
As part of the project, the company will develop and manufacture heat exchanger – designed by Ergon Research. Made from aluminium nitride (AIN), the company will rely on its Lithography-based Ceramic Manufacturing CeraFab System for the manufacturing process.
According to Lithoz, AIN is the perfect material for addressing the thermal management of these high-performance components due to its excellent thermal expansion coefficient and conductivity (211 W/mK). This dramatically increases thermal efficiency and enables compact, lightweight system architecture, which is crucial for electrified aviation.
It may be the first time we see Lithoz’s LCM technology applied to a hydrogen project, but ceramic 3D printing itself is no stranger to the field. In fact, ceramics have already proven to be a strong production candidate for key components in hydrogen generation. A notable example comes from 3DCeram, which previously showcased the capabilities of SLA 3D printing in a separate EU-funded initiative.
Dr. Johannes Homa, CEO of Lithoz, commented on the project’s success so far: “This is a breakthrough application of our ceramic 3D printing technology in a completely new field. Aerospace and sustainability are key growth areas for Lithoz, so achieving serial production with aluminium nitride is a significant milestone for these sectors. This material opens up design and application possibilities that no one else can currently realise, making a decisive contribution to a greener future in aviation through ceramic AM.”
Upon validation, the heat exchanger will be used in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for aircraft in the megawatt class.
Remember, you can post job opportunities in the AM Industry on 3D ADEPT Media free of charge or look for a job via our job board. Make sure to follow us on our social networks and subscribe to our weekly newsletter : Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram ! If you want to be featured in the next issue of our digital magazine or if you hear a story that needs to be heard, make sure to send it to contact@3dadept.com
