EVENDALE, GE Aviation is assembling the high pressure compressor (HPC) rig that will be tested this summer as part of the GE9X engine stud...
EVENDALE,
GE Aviation is assembling the high pressure compressor (HPC) rig that will be tested this summer as part of the GE9X engine study for Boeing's 777X aircraft. The high pressure compressor rig will be a 90 percent scale of the full size HPC on the next-generation GE90 engine and is part of the $200 million GE will spend in 2013 on technology maturation programs for the engine.
The HPC rig test will occur at a GE Oil & Gas facility in Massa, Italy in July. The HPC rig will include more than 1,000 pieces of instrumentation.
The next-generation GE90 engine incorporates an 11-stage HPC with new aerodynamic technology and a 4th generation powdered alloy material that will produce a 27-to-1 pressure ratio, which will be the highest pressure ratio of any commercial engine in service. The new HPC design will significantly increase thermal efficiency and contribute a 2 percent improvement in the engine's fuel burn.
GE Aviation's engine study, called the GE9X, for the 777X aircraft has been underway for several years. The engine will be in the 100,000 lbs. thrust class with a 10 percent improvement in fuel burn over today's GE90-115B.
Key features include a 132" diameter composite fan case and 4th generation composite fan blades; next-generation 27:1 pressure ratio high pressure compressor; a 3rd-generation TAPS (twin annular pre-swirl) combustor for greater efficiency and low emissions; and ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material in the combustor and turbine.
Among the test cell upgrades are: an enhanced ventilation system capable of the cooling and heating required by the HPC module, a unique exhaust frame and water quenching system and new instrumentation and data acquisition systems. A new inlet system was also installed and will be tested this month.
The first full core test is scheduled for 2015. The first engine will test in 2016 with flight testing on GE's flying testbed anticipated in 2017. Engine certification is scheduled for 2018.
Testing on the new fan module, which includes 4th generation composite fan blades and a composite fan case, is set for later this year. In 2014, GE Aviation will conduct tests on GE9X hot section components made from ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). The components will be tested on a GEnx demonstrator engine to gather information onfunctionality and durability.
The GE9X will follow the highly successful GE90-115B engine that entered service in 2004.
At 115,000 pounds of thrust, the GE90-115B engine includes such performance-enhancing features as three-dimensional aerodynamic (3-D aero) compressor and wide-chord, swept composite fan blades for greater efficiency.
The dual annular combustor emits no more than 40 percent of the hydrocarbons allowed by today's international standards. In addition, today's GE90-115B engines have been enhanced to reduce fuel burn by 3.6% from the 2000 launch specification.
More than 1,500 GE90-115B engines have been ordered by customers for their Boeing 777-300ERs, 777-200LRs and 777 Freighters.
In 2011, the GE90 engine experienced its most successful year and accumulated airline and freighter operator commitments for 400 engines, surpassing the 250 engine commitments record from 2007.
Specifically designed for the Boeing 777, the GE90-115B holds the world record for thrust totaling 127,900 lbs. of thrust.
General Electric GE90 is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines built by GE Aviation exclusively for the Boeing 777, with thrust ratings ranging from 74,000 to 115,000 lbf (329 to 512 kN).
The GE90 series are physically thel argest engines in aviation history, the fan diameter of the original series being 312 cm (123 in). The largest variant, the GE90-115B, has a fan diameter of 325 cm (128 in). As a result, GE90 engines can only be airfreighted in assembled form by outsize cargo aircraft such as the Antonov An-124 Condor, presenting unique problems if, due to emergency diversions, a 777 were stranded in a place without the proper spare parts. If the fan is removed from the core, then the engines could be shipped on a Boeing 747 Freighter.
Apart from its size, the GE90-115B is powerful enough to fully operate GE's Boeing 747 testbed on its own power during a maximum thrust low speed flight test on board the aircraft.
Snecma of France, Avio SpA of Italy and IHI Corporation of Japan are partners in the GE90 program.
GE Aviation is assembling the high pressure compressor (HPC) rig that will be tested this summer as part of the GE9X engine study for Boeing's 777X aircraft. The high pressure compressor rig will be a 90 percent scale of the full size HPC on the next-generation GE90 engine and is part of the $200 million GE will spend in 2013 on technology maturation programs for the engine.
The HPC rig test will occur at a GE Oil & Gas facility in Massa, Italy in July. The HPC rig will include more than 1,000 pieces of instrumentation.
The next-generation GE90 engine incorporates an 11-stage HPC with new aerodynamic technology and a 4th generation powdered alloy material that will produce a 27-to-1 pressure ratio, which will be the highest pressure ratio of any commercial engine in service. The new HPC design will significantly increase thermal efficiency and contribute a 2 percent improvement in the engine's fuel burn.
GE Aviation's engine study, called the GE9X, for the 777X aircraft has been underway for several years. The engine will be in the 100,000 lbs. thrust class with a 10 percent improvement in fuel burn over today's GE90-115B.
Key features include a 132" diameter composite fan case and 4th generation composite fan blades; next-generation 27:1 pressure ratio high pressure compressor; a 3rd-generation TAPS (twin annular pre-swirl) combustor for greater efficiency and low emissions; and ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material in the combustor and turbine.
Among the test cell upgrades are: an enhanced ventilation system capable of the cooling and heating required by the HPC module, a unique exhaust frame and water quenching system and new instrumentation and data acquisition systems. A new inlet system was also installed and will be tested this month.
The first full core test is scheduled for 2015. The first engine will test in 2016 with flight testing on GE's flying testbed anticipated in 2017. Engine certification is scheduled for 2018.
Testing on the new fan module, which includes 4th generation composite fan blades and a composite fan case, is set for later this year. In 2014, GE Aviation will conduct tests on GE9X hot section components made from ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). The components will be tested on a GEnx demonstrator engine to gather information onfunctionality and durability.
The GE9X will follow the highly successful GE90-115B engine that entered service in 2004.
At 115,000 pounds of thrust, the GE90-115B engine includes such performance-enhancing features as three-dimensional aerodynamic (3-D aero) compressor and wide-chord, swept composite fan blades for greater efficiency.
The dual annular combustor emits no more than 40 percent of the hydrocarbons allowed by today's international standards. In addition, today's GE90-115B engines have been enhanced to reduce fuel burn by 3.6% from the 2000 launch specification.
More than 1,500 GE90-115B engines have been ordered by customers for their Boeing 777-300ERs, 777-200LRs and 777 Freighters.
In 2011, the GE90 engine experienced its most successful year and accumulated airline and freighter operator commitments for 400 engines, surpassing the 250 engine commitments record from 2007.
Specifically designed for the Boeing 777, the GE90-115B holds the world record for thrust totaling 127,900 lbs. of thrust.
General Electric GE90 is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines built by GE Aviation exclusively for the Boeing 777, with thrust ratings ranging from 74,000 to 115,000 lbf (329 to 512 kN).
The GE90 series are physically thel argest engines in aviation history, the fan diameter of the original series being 312 cm (123 in). The largest variant, the GE90-115B, has a fan diameter of 325 cm (128 in). As a result, GE90 engines can only be airfreighted in assembled form by outsize cargo aircraft such as the Antonov An-124 Condor, presenting unique problems if, due to emergency diversions, a 777 were stranded in a place without the proper spare parts. If the fan is removed from the core, then the engines could be shipped on a Boeing 747 Freighter.
Apart from its size, the GE90-115B is powerful enough to fully operate GE's Boeing 747 testbed on its own power during a maximum thrust low speed flight test on board the aircraft.
Snecma of France, Avio SpA of Italy and IHI Corporation of Japan are partners in the GE90 program.
