Volvo Aero has been awarded a contract to supply 57 engine nozzles and turbines for the Ariane 5 engine programme.
FiatAvio placed the order for four liquid oxygen (LOX) turbines for the Vulcain 1 cryogenic first stage engine and 19 LOX turbines for the new Vulcain 2. The Swedish company is also developing the 17 nozzles and 17 liquid hydrogen (LH) turbines for the Vulcain 2 engine, which will be introduced next year.
Volvo is already developing the LOX and LH turbines for the new cryogenic upper stage Vinci engine for a more powerful Ariane 5 version.
The new nozzle for the Vulcain 2 has also been adopted for the Pratt & Whitney RL-60 engine. The design is based on a double-walled sandwiched nozzle which is cooled by circulating liquid hydrogen.
The Vulcain is a traditional regeneratively cooled engine with liquid oxygen circulating in radial tubes on the upper part of the nozzle.
The new design is more robust but saves weight, is more efficient and takes much less time to produce.
Source: Flight International
