Oxford Thermofluids Institute | Research - Flagships: PINES
Powerplant Integration of Novel Engine Systems (PINES)
Powerplant Integration of Novel Engine Systems (PINES)
The Powerplant Integration of Novel Engine Systems (PINES) project was a £28.2 million joint initiative funded by Innovate UK via the Aerospace Technology Institute which ran from 2020 until 2025. The consortium was led by Rolls-Royce and included expertise from the University of Oxford, Cranfield University, the University of Nottingham, and the University of Sheffield, as well as industrial partners Meggitt Aerospace and HiETA Technologies.
This wide-ranging project addressed key challenges related to thermal management, systems intelligence and integration of future powerplant architectures and installations, developing technologies targeted at civil aero-engines entering into service in the 2030s. These new developments improve component life and the overall fuel efficiency of the jet engine, thereby helping reduce the carbon dioxide emissions caused by air travel, as well as reducing its cost.
Work conducted at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute as part of Work Package 6 focused on the development of next generation Modulated Air System devices. Modulated air systems improve the overall efficiency of the engine through a reduction in cooling air needed during cruise, thereby reducing the environmental impact of aviation.
Current technology modulated air systems partly rely on conventional mechanical valves. Under the PINES programme, alternative fluidic devices with no moving parts were developed at Oxford, which provide a reduction in size, weight and cost, as well requiring less maintenance than their traditional mechanical alternatives.
Recent developments in Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) techniques were harnessed to produce a robust, tightly integrated, multistage fluidic device. Two key architectures were developed; a two-stage, SparkJet actuated, plasma-fluidic option, and a three-stage, piezo-acoustic device. Both configurations were successfully tested at scaled engine-representative flight cruise conditions, demonstrating good stability and rapid, reliable switching between high- and low-flow states.
The research conducted under PINES successfully brought the piezo-fluidic MAS device concept to TRL4 (Technology Readiness Level), matching the plasma-fluidic alternative, and both of these technologies are under consideration for implementation in future jet engines. The fluidic Modulated Air System technology is further being developed at Osney under the follow-on ATI grant RUFUS.
Publications:
An analytical model of the dynamics of reattaching jets
Chris J. Nicholls; Brian M. T. Tang; James Turner; Marko Bacic
Physics of Fluids 35, 115134 (2023)
DOI: 10.1063/5.0170567
Two-Stage Fluidic Valve With SparkJet Actuation for Flow Control
Chris J. Nicholls, Brian M. T. Tang, James Turner, Marko Bacic
J. Fluids Eng. Mar 2026, 148(3): 031205 (17 pages)
Paper No: FE-25-1393
DOI: 10.1115/1.4070246
Reattaching jet response to transverse acoustic excitation
Nicholls, C.J.; Chakravarthy, K.; Tang, B.M.T.; Williams, B.A.; Bacic, M.
AIAA Aviation Forum 2023, 12-16 June 2023, San Diego, California, USA
AIAA 2023-3890
DOI: 10.2514/6.2023-3890
Two further papers currently in draft.