Based on core testing results to date, Pratt & Whitney Canada says its PW800 engine is "ready today" for 10,000-20,000lb-thrust (44-89kN) class business jet projects rumoured to be on the horizon.

The company has logged more than 25h of temperature, pressure and stress testing on a highly instrumented core at its Longeuil, Quebec facility since December. The test is expected to continue until mid-year.

The axial flow core consists of an eight-stage high-pressure compressor developed jointly with MTU Aero Engines, combustors that use the company's Talon-X technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, and a two-stage high pressure turbine at the exit. Wrapped around the core will be a titanium fan at the front end and an MTU-built low-pressure turbine at the rear.

Pratt & Whitney PW800 core test
 © Pratt & Whitney

Although the now-stalled Cessna Columbus was to be the launch application for the PW800 family, P&WC continued core engine development after Cessna put the project on hold in 2009 as the core is common to its PurePower PW1000G geared turbofan engines, selected for the Bombardier CSeries small airliner and Mitsubishi MRJ regional jet projects. The company is developing two core sizes, a larger version for the 20,000-24,000lb-thrust CSeries application, and a smaller core for the 15,000-17,000lb-thrust MRJ and PW800 family.

The axial flow core represents a shift from P&WC business jet programmes to date, which have used a highly efficient centrifugal impellor at the exit of the HPC, a choice that generally limits engine thrust to about 12,000lb, however.

Source: Flight Daily News