Energy Innovation & Transformation

Electrified propulsion systems have a very promising future. In aviation, we are supporting the emergence of electric engines and electrified aircraft in its many various and novel forms. Our experience in the test & validation of gas turbines has primed us continue providing the facilities, tools and technologies tailored to customer needs, helping them focus on the development of their electrified products.

For years, we have taken steps to increase our contributions to enable electrified aviation and are marked with industrial research studies, proof of concept projects, design and supply of test equipment for electric aviation research facilities and our latest initiative developing a shared-access hybrid electric “centre of excellence” for R&D and certification.

Supporting the drive for decarbonization through the transition to Hydrogen, we help our customers understand the path to incorporate Hydrogen as retrofits to existing test facilities or as part of new test facilities. Whether for gas turbines or fuel cells, we help define test requirements for Hydrogen use, and explore the potential for energy recovery through electrolyzers to generate on-site hydrogen.

As a holistic approach, we evaluate both technical feasibility and commercial viability of different solutions based on the specific customer-specified conditions and requirements of hydrogen-based equipment. We have marked successes in partnering with industrial gas turbine manufacturers to retrofit test facilities for hydrogen.

Load absorption and dynamometer technologies are no longer limiting factors to test capabilities. Electric dynamometer systems offer many benefits over traditional mechanical dynamometer systems and EMINS opens the door to many possibilities: to test a wider range of engine operating envelopes, simulate lower and higher rotational inertias, conduct tests previously only possible on flight tests, kinetic energy recovery and the potential to reduce operating costs.

EMINS is a feature-rich test solution which helps support the development of clean technologies while itself helping to reduce test facility O&M efforts and costs. With increasing environmental awareness, organizations around the world are seeking opportunities to reduce waste and save costs.

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There are now viable means to recover the energy produced by the engine-under-test otherwise dissipated into the atmosphere.

Energy recovery and storage equipment costs have decreased, scaled up in power, and public financial incentives are now available. MDS works with customers to propose and develop profitable energy recovery solutions based on the application and region. They include waste-heat recovery and electrical power recovery which can be supplemented by microgrid-scale renewable power generation.

With widespread adoption of SAF, there is the potential for large positive environmental impact it’s a good intermediate step in climate action as cleaner technology races to meet the challenges of aviation. Many modern gas turbine engines require little or no modifications to operate on SAF blends up to 50%, and big strides are being made for easy technological adaptations for 100% SAF.

MDS has supported, and continues to support, engine OEMs and test facility operators to increase testing capabilities with SAF and to help accelerate the widespread adoption of SAF use – effectively removing the engine from being a limiting factor. We offer effective solutions and services to enable SAF-based testing in new and existing test facilities, whether integrated into or as a flexible add-on.