Seeking ever greater efficiency
Airbus and Rolls-Royce have signed a collaboration agreement for the integration of Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan demonstrator for flight testing. The demonstration will be co-funded by Clean Sky 2, the European Union research programme focused on developing technology to reduce emissions.
UltraFan is a scalable jet engine design suitable for both widebody and single-aisle airliners and is said to offer a 25 percent fuel efficiency improvement over the first generation of Rolls-Royce Trent engine.
One element of the UltraFan programme is planning for ground and flight tests, and to support this Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement with Airbus to provide both nacelle and engine/aircraft integration architecture and technology enablers.
Airbus’ integration solutions will play an important part in achieving the overall fuel efficiency improvement of higher bypass ratio engines such as UltraFan.
The airframe manufacturer says this technology development programme with Rolls-Royce is a key project for it to pave the way towards the next generation integrated propulsion systems that will be needed by airlines towards the end of the next decade.
Rolls-Royce sees this as another step forward in its UltraFan engine progress, and a spokesman says, “It is great to have Airbus expertise to further strengthen our ability to deliver this important development programme. We remain very grateful to Clean Sky 2 for its continued recognition of the environmental benefits that UltraFan will bring.”
UltraFan features a new engine core architecture and lean-burn combustion system to contribute to improved fuel burn efficiency and lower emissions, along with a carbon titanium fan blade system and composite casing to reduce weight. The engine also introduces a geared design to deliver efficient power at high bypass ratios.
For Airbus, the project will enable it to fully integrate the overall powerplant system—engine, pylon and nacelle—on to future long-range aircraft, as well as facilitating scalability for future short-range aircraft.
It will also build on Airbus’ expertise in advanced manufacturing technologies such as high-deposition-rate additive manufacture, welded assembly and high-production-rate thermoplastics.
- Report by John King.
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