Rolls-Royce wants to redefine sustainable air travel with its new UltraFan engine.
Leading British aerospace manufacturer Rolls-Royce already started working on this advanced aero-engine demonstrator model, which features a 140-inch fan diameter, the largest of its kind in the world.
UF001, the demonstrator engine, should roll out of Rolls-Royce’s exclusive DemoWorks unit in Derby, UK, by the end of this year. As the engine’s assembly gathers momentum in Derby, the production and delivery of other key components pick up speed. While work has commenced on the engine’s 50MW power gearbox in Dahlewitz, Germany, its carbon-titanium propeller system is under construction in Bristol. The firm expects to conduct the initial trial run of the demonstrator aero-engine UF001 on 100% SAF (sustainable aviation fuel).
Rolls-Royce believes that the UltraFan engine would form the basis of a new generation of aero-engines capable of providing 25% higher full efficiency over the Trent turbofans. The advancement comes at a crucial time when the world is looking for sustainable ways of air travel in a post-pandemic era.
Some speculate that this development came following the company’s underlying £ 4.1 bn loss in 2020 as it hopes to boost sales with the new engine. The company plans to cut down CO2 emissions by 75%, NOx emissions by 90%, and reduce noise pollution due to airplanes by 60% in the long run with the new generation of aero-engines.
Rolls-Royce considers the UltraFan engine a part of IntelligentEngine vision. Hence, each propeller vane has a digital counterpart that houses real-time statistics to enable the engineers to determine in-service performance. Furthermore, Rolls-Royce’s new £ 90 million testbed facility allows engineers to collect data from over 10000 parameters and detect vibrations up to a staggering rate of 200,000 samples per second.
Principle engineering attributes of the engine boast of an Advance 3 core architecture, in addition to ALECSys (Advanced Low Emissions Combustion System) lean-burn combustion mechanism. This combination helps provide high fuel burn efficiency with minimal emissions. The carbotanium propellers and a composite casing decrease the weight up to 1500lb per aircraft.
Meanwhile, an advanced ceramic matrix composition allows the engine to work flawlessly at high temperatures and pressures. It also sports a geared design for highly efficient power delivery. The engine can be used in both narrow-bodied and wide-bodied airplanes.
With all the talks of hydrogen and electric-powered aircraft going on, some analysts speculate that non-carbon alternatives might soon replace the UltraFan. But Rolls-Royce believes that gas-turbines would continue forming the basis of long-haul flights for years to come, and the UltraFan engine would be the best and the most sustainable option out there.
Several parties such as the Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK, Clean Sky Joint Undertaking of European Union and LuFo from Germany have joined funds to make the UltraFan project a reality. Backed by significant government investments, Rolls-Royce is determined to provide a one-stop solution and change aviation’s future.
