GE Aviation Unveils GEnx Engine at Paris Air Show; Up to 15% More Fuel Efficient

16 June 2009

The GEnx-1B turbofan engine. Click to enlarge.

GE Aviation unveiled its new GEnx engine in a special ceremony at the 2009 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. The GEnx engine offers up to 15% improved fuel efficiency compared with GE’s CF6 engine that it will replace. This fuel efficiency translates to approximately 15% less CO₂. The GEnx will also be the quietest engine that GE has produced, based on the ratio of decibels to pounds of thrust.

The new engine is designed to stay on wing 30% longer, while using 30% fewer parts, greatly reducing maintenance. The GEnx’s emissions will be as much as 95% below current regulatory limits, ensuring future compliance. Based on the GE90”s proven architecture and often called its “little brother,” the GEnx combines a number of breakthrough technologies:

• Composites: The GEnx is the first engine with a carbon fiber, composite fan case as well as fan blades. GE introduced composite fan blades in the 1980s as part of the open-rotor fan system on its GE36 engine. The GE90 was the first commercial engine with composite fan blades, enabling unprecedented bypass ratios for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

• Compressor: The core is the heart of the turbofan. The GEnx features the most efficient, compact core yet produced, and features a 10-stage, high-pressure compressor—four fewer than the engine it replaces. (Fewer stages equates to fewer parts). The compressor delivers a record 23:1 pressure ratio.

• TAPS Combustor: The Twin-Annular Pre-mixing Swirler (TAPS) combustor reduces emissions. (Earlier post.) TAPS pre-mixes air and fuel to create a leaner mixture that burns at lower temperatures, leading to lower levels of NO_x. The GEnx combustor reduces NO_x to levels 60% below today’s limits, and other regulated gases more than 90% below.

• Turbines: Turbines extract energy from the core flow. The GEnx’s high- and low-pressure turbines contain the most advanced geometry, material, and coatings for improved durability and efficiency. A counter-rotating architecture enables a more efficient extraction, allowing for a 10% part reduction in select stages.

IHI of Japan, Avio SpA. of Italy, Volvo Aero of Sweden, MTU of Germany, TechSpace Aero of Belgium, Snecma (SAFRAN Group) of France and Samsung Techwin of Korea are revenue-sharing participants in the GEnx program.

The GEnx-1B engine is the best selling engine for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (earlier post) and the sole source engine for the Boeing 747-8 aircraft. With more than 1,100 engines on order, the GEnx is the fastest-selling large jet engine in GE history.

GE is developing the GEnx-2B to meet the thrust and installation requirements of the Boeing 747-8 intercontinental and Freighter aircraft. The GEnx-2B engine maintains the low fuel burn, emissions and noise characteristics proven on the GEnx-1B engine.

Resources

• GEnx Theater