ALFA Seal

About

The efficiency of movement of a body through a fluid (liquids and gases) is improved by the smoothness of the external surfaces of the body. Conversely the presence and exposure of roughness, imperfections, gaps and steps on the external surfaces of the body impairs efficiency.

As such, the ALFA Seal project is concerned with reconciling the ambitions of efficient laminar flow for aircraft wing assemblies with the realities of mechanical fit.

(ALFA Seal Project Site)

The Seal

The ALFA Seal project (ALFA Seal – Advanced Laminar Flow snAp-fit Seal) builds on previous UK government and industry funded projects aiming to make air travel more environmentally sustainable through the enablement of wing laminar flow, supporting the Government to committing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Turbulent Wing design has evolved over the past 50 years introducing relatively small incremental changes to reduce drag and improve efficiency. To meet airlines requirements for reducing operating costs, and to respond to societal pressure for eco-friendly and green flight, a step change in technology is required.

Laminar flow wing innovation enables such a step change, reducing fuel/energy burn, which in turn results in improved operating costs, improved profitability for the operators, and reduced environmental impact through sustainable flight.

In the future, component assembly will be increasingly smart and automated, and the novel laminar-flow-friendly ALFA Seal system champions this ambition.

The ease of assembly of the innovative ALFA Seal system removes the need for sealant between joints (steps and gaps) balancing the conflicting requirements of tight aerodynamic tolerances, against cost-effective, easy-to-repair structures.

(ALFA Seal Project Site)

Experimentation

Laser Doppler Anemometry

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Schlieren Imaging

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Oil Film Interferometry

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Four

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Five

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Six

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End

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