US Air Force Selects Rolls-Royce to Proceed with Phase II Development of ADVENT Demonstrator
19 October 2009
The US Air Force has selected Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc. to proceed with Phase II development in the Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology (ADVENT) demonstrator program. (Earlier post.) Next steps for this key USAF technology program will include the integration of a variety of advanced technologies, component testing and development of a technology demonstrator core and engine.
In August 2007, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc. was awarded a $296 million contract by the AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory) for work to develop ADVENT technologies that focus on an adaptive engine architecture to provide a 25% improvement in average fuel consumption and reduced temperature cooling air for thermal management. The ADVENT engine demonstrator testing is scheduled for 2013.
This authorization to proceed follows successful completion earlier this year of a series of tests and analysis on a technology demonstrator core and adaptive engine. Designed to provide significant improvement in average fuel consumption, this core and engine will be available for future US military aerospace platforms, including medium or large unmanned air systems.
ADVENT is part of the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) Program, an initiative sponsored by industry and government partners to advance state of the art turbine engine technology for military and commercial aviation.
In September 2007, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc. was awarded a $19.6 million contract by the US Air Force Research Laboratory for work that will be carried out on HEETE. The HEETE technology program is a key element within the VAATE program. (Earlier post.)
The Air Force is "the single largest consumer of fuel in the federal government and buys 10 percent of all aviation fuel in the United States. Last year, it burned through 2.4 BILLION gallons of fuel at a cost of $7.7 BILLION" (http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/energy/2009/03/16/how-the-us-military-is-trying-to-cut-its-enormous-energy-appetite.html).....the ADVENT project is good, but most of the research money should be spent on renewable jet fuel (ie. from algae, energy crops, etc).
Posted by: ejj | 19 October 2009 at 05:59 PM
ejj:
Shouldn't most of the money be spent to find ways to consume LESS fuel not just another type of fuel?
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 October 2009 at 10:20 AM
HarveyD: Not during combat operations. Even during peacetime operations, war material needs to be moved around & pilots need to train. So the Air Force won't be able to conserve much more if the American people still want to have a strong warfighting capability. I don't think the military needs to conserve as much as it needs clean, cheap, renewable energy. Personally, I don't want to conserve any energy at all but I don't want to pollute & dirty up creation or be part of a dependency on thug oil regimes either...I should be able to burn all the renewable energy I have the ability to buy if there are companies willing to sell it to me.
Posted by: ejj | 20 October 2009 at 07:05 PM
Rolls Royce has done some interesting fuel cell designs. Not may people know about their work in this area, but they seem to be in it for the long haul.
Posted by: SJC | 20 October 2009 at 07:10 PM