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Rolls-Royce has built a technology leadership
position with its Trent family of engines, the
latest of which, the Trent XWB, is the world’s
most efficient engine flying today. Trent engines
will continue in service for decades to come with
2,500 in service and more than 2,500 on order,
the company said in a statement released here
Feb 26.
Rolls-Royce is continually innovating and, as
part of that ongoing process, is looking to build
on the success of the Trent family of engines
with two new generation engine designs.
The first design, Advance, will offer at least
20 per cent better fuel burn and CO2 emissions
than the first generation of Trent engine and
could be ready from the end of this decade.
The second, UltraFan™, a geared design
with a variable pitch fan system, is based on
technology that could be ready for service from
2025 and will offer at least 25 per cent improvement
in fuel burn and emissions against the same baseline.
Colin Smith, Rolls-Royce Director – Engineering
and Technology, said: “These new designs
are the result of implementing our ongoing technology
programmes. They are designed to deliver what
our airframe and airline customers tell us they
need: even better fuel efficiency, reliability
and environmental performance.”
Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil
Large Engines, said: “As innovators, we can
never stand still, even when we have the leadership
position. Our horizons extend into the coming
decades and we have amassed a range of new technologies
to meet the needs of our customers. I am confident
that our engine design strategy will ensure we
power the future of global aviation.”
Both engine designs are the result of the ongoing
research and development investment, of approximately
£1bn a year, which Rolls-Royce makes across
its aerospace and non-aerospace businesses.
The designs will feature architecture and technology
improvements, all currently at an advanced stage
of development, that include:
- A new engine core architecture – to
deliver maximum fuel burn efficiency and low
emissions.
- A CTi Fan System – carbon/titanium fan
blades and a composite casing that reduce weight
by up to 1,500lb per aircraft, the equivalent
of carrying seven more passengers at no cost.
- Advanced ceramic matrix composites –
heat resistant components that operate more
effectively in high turbine temperatures.
- A geared design, called UltraFan™, which
will deliver efficient power for high-thrust,
high-bypass ratio engines of the future.
In addition, Rolls-Royce has developed and tested
technologies to support the Open Rotor engine
concept and is positioned to mature them should
there be clear market demand for such a product.
About Rolls-Royce
- Advance and UltraFan™ are engine development
names – in line with Rolls-Royce tradition,
the family names for these engines will be announced
at the appropriate time.
- Rolls-Royce’s vision is to create better
power for a changing world via two main business
segments, Aerospace and Marine & Industrial
Power Systems (MIPS). These businesses address
their markets with two strong technology platforms,
gas turbines and reciprocating engines, for
use on land, at sea and in the air.
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