UK engine manufacturer developing single scalable core aimed at replacing products in 7,000-30,000lb thrust class
Rolls-Royce will run a demonstrator core engine test at the end of 2005 or early 2006 that will support the introduction of a new range of two-shaft engines covering the 7,000-30,000lb-thrust (31-133.5kN) range to be launched "as the market requires".
At present the UK engine manufacturer offers four turbofans within this thrust category, all with a different heritage: the 22,000-33,000lb thrust International Aero Engines V2500, a collaborative venture with Japanese Aero Engines, MTU and Pratt & Whitney; the 14,000-23,000lb thrust Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR700; the 13,800-15,400lb Tay, developed from the R-R Spey and the 6,000-10,000lb AE3007, developed by Allison before its acquisition by R-R.
Stephen Morgan, chief engineer, research and technology, civil aerospace says: "We're trying to bring to the small end what we've done with the Trent - a single, scalable engine to replace all engines in the 7,000-30,000lb thrust class."
The technology validation programme is led by R-R Deutschland under its Environment, Efficiency and Economy (E3E) programme, which brings in various national and European research programmes and encompasses the company's Vision 10 strategy for developing commercially available technologies by 2010. The demonstrator will feature a nine-stage boosterless high-pressure compressor, a new shroudless high-pressure turbine and a single-annular, dual-injector combustor, which Morgan says has shown "very promising" results in rig tests. Overall weight savings compared to current engines are expected to be around 40% compared to a 1990s design, says R-R director of research and technology, Ric Parker. "This programme is the crunch point on proving our technology works," he adds.
Several innovations and technologies are being studied that go beyond the core, including evaluation of designs in which the fan case and fan containment system are part of the nacelle rather than the engine, an approach that could produce major cost savings in development and certification as well as improving propulsion system modularity and interchangeability.
R-R Deutschland is the "centre of excellence" of the company's two-shaft engine programmes and is likely to handle marketing and launch of any new commercial engines in the thrust range. One of the most significant potential applications for engines lower down the two-shaft thrust range is in unmanned air vehicles, which R-R sees as accounting for a "sizeable part" of the $700 billion market identified for aeroengines over the next 20 years.
In another move, R-R is about to begin testing at Spain's INTA test centre at Madrid a complete engine assembled under the European Affordable Near Term Low Emissions (Antle) programme. Targeted at three-shaft engines above 40,000lb thrust, and with all-new components aft of the Trent 500 fan and low-pressure compressor, the programme aims to demonstrate a 12% cut in fuel burn compared with 1990s technology, a 12% cut in carbon dioxide emissions and 60% lower nitrous oxides.
JULIAN MOXON / DERBY
Source: Flight International
