Guy Norris/LOSANGELES
PRATT & WHITNEY has won a $27 million five-year engine-technology contract from the NASA Lewis Research Center as part of the agency's advanced subsonic-technology (AST) project.
The AST project, which was launched in 1992, is designed to keep the US aerospace industry competitive by accelerating the development of key emerging technologies. NASA Lewis manages the propulsion, engine-noise reduction and fly-by-light/power-by-wire elements. P&W's work is aimed at developing technology to meet several goals, including the reduction of nitrous-oxide emissions by 70%; a 3% cut in direct operating cost; the reduction of engine noise by 6% by 2000; and the improvement of fuel efficiency by up to 8%.
In particular, the engine manufacturer will develop reduced-emission combustor designs, lightweight affordable engine structures and advanced controls and accessories. It is also tasked with developing validated design codes for high bypass ducts and aero-elastic codes for turbomachinery. These are being evolved to reduce development testing and cost, and to decrease the time to market for either new or derivative engines.
General Electric was awarded a similar, but much larger, $61.8 million AST contract in February. In addition to parallel developments being pursued by P&W, the GE contract also covers the development of a lubrication system for geared engines.
Additional engine-noise-reduction technology areas includes aerodynamic and aero-acoustic prediction-code development, fan/ nacelle noise-reduction-concept design and testing and active noise-reduction-concept development and demonstrations.
Source: Flight International
