Eco-friendly APU under development for business jets

May 20, 2008
Maintenance and Modifications

Microturbo, a subsidiary of Safran Group company Turbomeca, has finalized a partnership with Triumph Gear Systems of Park City, Utah, for the development of a gearbox for its new e-APU line of auxiliary power units, which are being specifically designed for business jets requiring 15 to 90 kWe power (up to 150 shaft horsepower).

“The signature of this partnership agreement is a major step toward the launch of a new-generation auxiliary power units designed to meet the needs of future business jets which require more electrical power,” said Jean-Louise Chenard, Microturbo deputy general manager.

“The e-APU features extremely low pollution and noise emission levels, plus a remarkable acoustic signature of less than 70 decibels,” said the company, which claims to invest 15 percent of its turnover in research and development.
The prototype e-APU is scheduled to run on a test bed in the fourth quarter of this year, having passed the critical design review in February. Certification is expected in 2011.

The Toulouse-based company announced at the NBAA Convention in Atlanta last November that it was developing the new e-APU product line, offering a “simplified architecture with low noise emission centrifugal compressor, two-stage axial turbines with attached blades and high pressure cycle based on proven technologies.”
Microturbo (Booth No. 123) operates from four locations worldwide: Toulouse; Grand Prairie, Texas; Fareham, England; and Bankstown, Australia. 

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