Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan Demonstrator Engine Achieves Full Power
06 December 2007
Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine (earlier post) has successfully completed its first series of engine runs, reaching full power—30,000 pounds of thrust—at the company’s advanced test facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. The full-scale demonstrator engine ground test program will run through May 2008 when flight testing on Pratt & Whitney’s 747 flying test bed will begin.
The Geared Turbofan engine targets double-digit improvements in fuel burn with significant reductions in engine noise, environmental emissions and operating costs. In a Geared Turbofan engine, a state-of-the-art fan drive gear system allows the engine’s fan to operate at a speed different than that of the low-pressure compressor and turbine, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and a slower fan speed which results in less noise.
Recently, the Geared Turbofan engine was selected by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. as the exclusive power for the planned 70- to 90-passenger Mitsubishi Regional Jet. Bombardier has also confirmed that the company has selected the Geared Turbofan engine to power its proposed CSeries family of 110- to 130-seat aircraft pending final approvals. Both aircraft are scheduled to enter service in 2013.
(A hat-tip to Anthony!)
It is encouraging to note that higher fossil fuel price pressured engine and aircraft manufacturers to improved the design and efficiency of their products.
This one seems to be a win-win-win-win product.
Others will certainly follow.
Older noisier aircraft with higher fuel consumption will become obsolete unless they are re-engined.
Posted by: Harvey D | 06 December 2007 at 08:05 AM
One hopes a the engine manufacturers will create a product line of engines suitable for retrofit to the existing fleet. The economic justification to swap engines has got to be compelling considering the useful life of commercial aircraft.
Posted by: Nick | 06 December 2007 at 09:27 AM
30,000 lbs of thrust is a small engine by today's standards. Each engine of a 747 currently develops 63,000 lbs plus. It will be interesting to watch the engine development as this device is migrated up the line. Reducing fuel costs is definitely a priority in the air transport business.
Posted by: Lad | 06 December 2007 at 11:43 AM
Pratt & Whitney is primarily aiming their geared turbofan for this market--the replacement for the Airbus A320 Family and the Boeing 737. Cutting fuel consumption 15% or more is very enticing to many airlines.
Posted by: Raymond | 06 December 2007 at 08:43 PM