Rolls-Royce has completed construction of its UltraFan demonstration engine, which can improve aircraft fuel efficiency by up to 10%.
The engine has a 12-foot (140-inch) fan system, the largest in the world, and is designed to run on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel.
It has now been shipped from the workshop to Testbed 80 – a £90 million ($109.5 million) facility in Derby built exclusively for UltraFan.
The British company now hopes to conduct the first tests early next year, which could lead to the technology being used in its current range of Trent engines.
Rolls-Royce has completed construction of its UltraFan demonstration engine, which could improve aircraft fuel efficiency by up to 10%
The motor has the world’s largest 12-foot (140-inch) fan system and is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel
Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace President Chris Cholerton said: “Seeing the UltraFan demonstrator assembled and ready for testing in Testbed 80 is a great way to end the year.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment, and it’s an important milestone for the project and the team involved in it.
“The next phase will see UltraFan run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel for the first time in 2023, proving that the technology is ready to support more sustainable flying in the future.”
UltraFan cost over £500 million to complete thanks to a combination of state-of-the-art technology and materials.
It boasts carbon composite fan blades with titanium sheaths to help protect them from object damage and bird strikes.
These materials help reduce its weight and improve fuel efficiency.
It also features a new power transmission, lean combustion chamber and Advance3 core architecture, which help deliver very high propulsion efficiency.
UltraFan delivered 64 megawatts of power in tests, an aerospace record and equivalent to the needs of a city the size of Bath.
Once scaled up, it will have a thrust range of 25,000 lb (11,000 kg) to 100,000 lb (45,000 kg).
Rolls-Royce plans to start building narrow- and wide-body aircraft with UltraFan engines in the 2030s
The new engine is 25% more fuel efficient than the first-generation Trent turbofan
Rolls-Royce plans to start building narrow- and wide-body aircraft with UltraFan engines in the 2030s.
Until then, the manufacturer plans to start equipping its existing Trent engines with UltraFan technology to reduce emissions.
The new engine is 25 percent more fuel efficient than the first-generation turbofan engine.
It also has 40 percent less nitrogen oxides, 35 percent less noise, and virtually zero non-volatile particulate matter while cruising.
The sustainable aviation fuel that UltraFan will use uses 80% less carbon over its lifetime than conventional jet fuel.
Rolls-Royce is currently testing its other engines using 10% of this fuel blend to help them gradually move into service.
UltraFan has carbon composite fan blades with titanium sheaths to help protect them from object damage and bird strikes
UltraFan delivered 64 megawatts of power in tests, an aerospace record and equivalent to the needs of a city the size of Bath
UltraFan produces 40% less NOx, 35% less noise and virtually zero non-volatile particulate matter at cruise compared to Trent engines
Once scaled up, the UltraFan will have a thrust range of 25,000 lb (11,000 kg) to 100,000 lb (45,000 kg)
This isn’t the first time Rolls-Royce has attempted to improve the sustainability of its aircraft.
Last month, the company successfully tested a hydrogen-powered jet engine.
The engine used is a modified Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A, started and running on hydrogen extracted from water by renewable energy.
Hydrogen itself is considered a “green” fuel because when it is burned in air it produces only water, rather than greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
While there are still some kinks to be ironed out before planes can take off on the green fuel, the trial is a world-first and is seen as a “new aviation milestone”.
The engine used is a modified Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A, started and running on hydrogen extracted from water by renewable energy
Airplanes are typically powered by the fossil fuel kerosene, and the Boeing 737-400 currently produces about 200 pounds (90 kilograms) of carbon dioxide per hour per passenger.
Air travel is responsible 3.5% of human contribution to global warmingso many companies are looking for green solutions.
Rolls-Royce has also been working on battery technology all electric aircraftit can fly for 30 minutes on a single charge.
The motivation for these projects may be “Race against the clock” Activities that the company has signed up for.
This means it has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 by meeting a strict set of standardsincluding taking immediate action.
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 “at the latest” is consistent with the scientific consensus to limit warming to 2.7°F (1.5°C) under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
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Santa’s sleigh needs an engine like NASA’s Saturn V rocket
If there are unbelieving children out there who don’t believe in their father Christmasa new scientific study may change their minds.
With some major modifications to Santa’s sleigh, including a pair of wings similar to commercial airplanes, it could be possible to fly, physicists say.
Santa’s sleigh needs an engine with as much thrust as Santa’s sleigh nasaof Saturn They figured V rockets or 150 Boeing 747-400 airliners.
It also has to move at 12,300 miles per hour (5,500 meters per second) — about 10 times the speed of sound — to generate enough lift.
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Some major modifications to Santa’s sleigh, including a pair of wings similar to commercial airplanes and a thruster equivalent to that produced by NASA’s Saturn V rocket or 150 Boeing 747-400 airliners, physicists say engine, it has the potential to fly
