Page 16 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2016 Online Magazine

ENGINES
FEA
TURE
FEATURE ENGINES

Advanced materials have allowed
higher operating temperatures
greatly enhancing engine
performance and durability. Fuel-
efficiency has improved with
the double benefit of improved
performance and lower weight of
the entire engine

costs than the competition. The 100,000 Engine certification is anticipated in 2018. with one-third the density of metal alloys,
pound thrust class GE9X engine is the world’s Ground testing of the first full engine to their high-temperature properties have
largest commercial aircraft engine and will test (FETT at GE Aviation’s Peebles Testing significantly allowed higher temperatures
power both the 777-8 and 777-9. operation in ohio, U.S.A, commenced in April. in the hot section, greatly enhancing engine
Company officials, say, “results of the initial performance, fuel-efficiency and durability,
Powerful Powerplants engine run were very positive.” “The ground while also reducing the weight of the entire
When it comes to large turbofans for testing will generate data on the full engine engine.
widebody jetliners GE Aviation has the system and aerodynamic performance, The Trent XWB is only powerplant for
lion’s share of the market with 54 per cent, mechanical verification, and aero thermal the A350 XWB Family. According to the
RR has 38 per cent, Engine Alliance has a system validation,” said Bill Millhaem, general RR annual report 2015, “In the future, an
6 per cent share and Pratt & Whitney is left manager of the GE90/GE9X engine programs increasing proportion of our new engines
with 2 per cent (Source: RR annual report at GE Aviation. The GE9X will have a 134-inch will be sold to the airframer on a sole-source
2015). RR expects to increase its present diameter front fan, a composite fan case, 16 basis, in particular the new Trent XWB and
market share to 50 per cent by early next fourth generation carbon fiber composite Trent 7000 for use on the Airbus A350 and
decade. GE is the sole engine provider for fan blades, a next-generation 27:1 pressure- A330neo respectively.” The Trent XWB
the Boeing 777X, which is slated to enter ratio 11-stage high-pressure compressor. completed a year in service on the A350
commercial service with Emirates in 2020. CMCs are used in the combustor and high- XWB, in January with launch customer Qatar
GE Aviation has received an order for almost pressure turbine section of the new GE9X Airways. According to RR, the Trent XWB
700 GE9X engines. Next year will be a busy engine. Comprising of SiC ceramic fibers achieved a dispatch rate of 99.83 per cent in
year for the GE9X program with the start in a SiC matrix, enhanced by proprietary its first year of service. The Trent XWB engine
of certification testing and flight testing on coatings, the lightweight, heat-resistant now represents the largest single element of
GE Aviation’s flying test bed and a second CMCs are used in the hot section of GE jet RR’s £76.4bn order book, with over 1,500 of
GE9X engine will join the test programme. engines. The CMC’s, are not only light weight, the engines have been ordered by more than
16 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE JULY/ AUGUST 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA