Rolls-Royce engine completes static testing running entirely on sustainable aviation fuel at factory level at full power.
UltraFan engine at Rolls-Royce factory. Photo: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce announced that its giant UltraFan experimental jet engine has been running entirely on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), but tests have proven that all of its current civil engines are compatible with SAF, New Atlas reported on November 15. With the aviation industry under increasing pressure to produce technology that is both efficient and environmentally friendly, it makes a lot of sense for a major company like Rolls-Royce to use SAF across its entire product line, including the UltraFan.
The world's largest and most powerful turbofan engine, the UltraFan has a 14-inch wide fan and a power output of 64 MW. In static testing, it delivered a maximum thrust of over 378,000 Newtons, which could increase to 489,304 Newtons for narrow-body or wide-body aircraft in the 2030s. The most unique feature of the UltraFan is its geared turbofan technology with a variable-pitch fan system, allowing the engine's turbine and fan to run at optimal speeds. The carbon composite fan blades can change their pitch angle to optimize each phase of flight. The use of composite materials makes this engine lighter than the titanium alloy version and 10% more efficient than the previous Trent XWB engine.
According to Rolls-Royce, some of the technology developed for the UltraFan can be integrated into the company's other existing engines, but all are licensed to run entirely on SAF. The latest engine to be licensed is the BR710 turbofan, which is being tested at Rolls-Royce's Canadian facility. Others on the list include the Trent 700, Trent 800, Trent 900, Trent 1000, Trent XWB-84, Trent XWB-97, Trent 7000, BR725, Pearl 700, Pearl 15, and Pearl 10X.
A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner powered by a Trent 1000 engine is scheduled to make the world’s first transatlantic flight using SAF. International standards currently allow for a maximum of 50% SAF mixed with 50% conventional jet fuel. Rolls-Royce hopes that flight tests and static tests can help change that.
An Khang (According to New Atlas )
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