Putting an astronaut into space, keeping them alive and bringing them back down safely is no mean feat. Doing so involves the use a vast array of technologies, created by experts from a wide variety of disciplines. In overcoming the many challenges inherent to spaceflight – and flight in general – the space and aerospace sectors have often put themselves at the forefront of technological innovation. It should be no surprise, then, that they have plenty to teach, and share with, utilities.

There are technologies that can directly flow from space and aerospace to help utilities, such as solar power. Work behind the scenes can also help, with computer fluid dynamics potentially being used to assist in the development of wind turbines.

The attitude towards innovation and engineering from these sectors is also something that utilities could adopt and embrace.

There have already been efforts put in place to share the learnings and technologies from space and aerospace with energy and water companies.

The European Space Agency’s (ESA’s)Technology Transfer Programme was, as the name suggests, set up to help earthbound industries benefit from extraterrestrial innovations. As part of the programme, Business Innovation Centres have been set up around Europe to help companies license space technology and apply it to other fields.

A 2014 report conducted on behalf of the ESA identified a number of areas where utilities could benefit from working closely with the aerospace sector – and vice versa – from solar photovoltaics and energy storage to thermal control and robotics.

Boeing, via its Spectrolab division, has been working on incrementally improving its multi-junction solar panels. These are used to power satellites and airborne searchlights, so maximising their efficiency is key. The engineers have managed to develop panels which convert more than 40 per cent of the solar energy, which is a significant improvement on the 12-18 per cent that terrestrial solar panels typically achieve.

These incremental improvements have also led to more fuel and energy efficient aircraft, and dramatic improvements at their manufacturing facilities on the ground – some of which have involved utilities.

The use of computer fluid dynamics is also an area of potential synergy between aerospace and utilities. The software, often used to help design aircraft or wing segments, can be used to help design more efficient and quieter wind turbines.

However, despite the many areas of crossover, it is perhaps the culture of the space and aerospace industry from which utilities have the most to learn. Oxford Flow technical director Tom Povey used his research into turbines, jet engines and ramjets at Oxford university to help develop a new type of pressure regulator for both liquids and gases, and tells Utility Week “it’s more to do with the mindset” than just technology transfer.

He said that in the space and aerospace sectors, innovation is their “bread and butter”, and that it is standard industry practice to come up with “wacky ideas” and to take innovation risks. This drives new engineering solutions, some of which do not come to fruition for ten years or more. Aviation giants Airbus and Boeing share this long-term thinking, often planning decades in advance for their new commercial jets and technologies.

Povey says part of the different attitude to innovation between utilities and aerospace comes from the fact that there are “working products that satisfy most demands” for the energy and water companies. Space and aerospace companies meanwhile are constantly addressing new challenges.

He acknowledges that utilities operate in a very different business environment to companies working in the space and aerospace sectors. Utilities face far more political pressure, for example when it comes to keeping down bills, and their freedom to invest is often constrained by regulations.

However, Povey insists that utilities could do better if they were slightly braver and embraced new technologies. Working closely with aerospace could open the door to these innovative technologies, with less development and cost risk being placed on them.

 

The International Space Station

The International Space Station is orbiting 400km above the earth and has to be self-sufficient in electricity, and be very water efficient, to sustain the six-strong crew. Facilitating life in space is an extraordinary feat of engineering, and one that earth-bound utilities could look to for innovation inspiration.

•    Solar array length: 239.4ft
(73m).

•    Power generation: eight solar arrays rated 84kW.

•    Eight miles of wire connect the electrical power system.

•    Instead of consuming 50 litres to take a shower, which is typical on Earth, denizens of the ISS use less than 4 litres.

•    The ISS recycles about 93 per cent of the liquids it receives.

 

Lessons from Aerospace

Incremental innovation

This is all about going after and working on the marginal gains. Nasa has worked to ensure its water recycling system achieves the 85 per cent efficiency such a system achieves on Earth. Improving the efficiency of the system means less water has to be shipped to the ISS, saving millions of dollars.

The giant aviation companies also go after incremental gains. Reducing drag to improve the fuel efficiency of their commercial jets, for instance, makes vast savings.

Take risks

Wacky ideas tend to be avoided by utilities, in favour of ensuring safe and reliable supplies to customers. In aerospace, “wacky” ideas can lead to innovations which have significant improvements in the longer term.

Long term thinking

The aerospace industry is often planning ten years down the line. The innovation ideas can take a decade or more to move from the drawing board, through the development process, and finally into commercial operation.

 

Case studies

Oxford Flow is a developer of engineering products based on industrial applications of gas or fluid flow. The company was spun out of Oxford University in 2015. The knowledge that technical director professor Tom Povey gained in the research and development of turbines, jet engines and ramjets has been harnessed to deliver a major innovation in pressure regulation/pressure reducing valve technology.

Boeing: solar PV

Aviation giant Boeing, via its fully-owned innovation subsidiary Spectrolab, has been working on improving the efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels.

The work, which has been supported by the US Department of Energy and the US Air Force, has seen Boeing’s engineers develop solar panels capable of converting more than 40 per cent of solar energy into electricity. This compares with the industry average of 12-18 per cent.

The high-efficiency multijunction solar cells are used for airborne searchlights and concentrated photovoltaic and spacecraft power systems. To date, Spectrolab’s solar cells have helped power more than 600 satellites and interplanetary missions since 1956, including the world’s first all-electric–propulsion satellite, the Boeing 702SP.

Airbus: fuel cells

Airbus is advancing a wide range of technologies that have significant environmental benefits, including the use of fuel cells to power an airliner’s cabin and systems. Such fuel cells produce electricity in a cleaner, more efficient way than combustion engines.

In addition, water – one of only three by-products, along with heat and oxygen-depleted air – can be used for the aircraft’s water and waste system, saving weight and therefore reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Airbus: wind generation

The aviation manufacturer runs biennial innovation competition, Fly Your Ideas, organised in partnership with Unesco, which challenges students to innovate for the future of aviation.

In 2011, Team Wings of Phoenix came up with a suggestion of a ground-based wind power generation system that exploits the wakes of aircraft generated during take-off and landing.

ESA: loop heat pipes

Loop heat pipes (LHPs) are described as “the most ­promising technology” using synergies between space and terrestrial ­applications. The ESA is currently funding the development and flight ­experiments of: high-performance LHPs; LHP-based deployable radiators; ­miniaturised LHPs; lowering and raising the LHP operating ­temperature range; and a flat LHP evaporator (instead of the classical cylindrical shape).

 

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