Rolls-Royce celebrates new success in two-shaft engine research programme

Rolls-Royce has celebrated the successful running of the latest core engine build in its E3E (efficiency, environment, economy) two-shaft research programme.

E3E is developing leading-edge technologies which increase engine temperature, pressure ratio and component efficiencies, together with a 25 per cent-plus increase in thrust to weight ratios.

These technologies are designed to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 15 per cent, compared to similar engines currently in service. E3E lean-burn will also reduce NOx emissions as part of the company’s drive to meet ACARE (Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe) targets of a 60 per cent reduction by 2020.

The programme is designed to address future customer needs in the corporate and narrowbody sectors

The latest Core, 3/2b, has produced excellent results during 40 hours of running at Stuttgart University altitude test facility, far exceeding flight envelope requirements.

Mark King, Rolls-Royce President – Civil Aerospace, said: “Our E3E technology, which is at the heart of our future two-shaft engine product strategy, continues to make great progress. We are delighted with the latest results which have taken us another step forward in demonstrating our excellence in integrating new technologies into a highly effective engine system.”

Rolls-Royce started design of the engine in 2003 and continues to run intensive HPC, combustor and high pressure turbine rig programmes to support the Core 3/2b demonstrator. Further builds of Core 3/2 will be tested in 2011 and 2012 and will include 1,200 cycles of endurance testing representative of maximum take-off conditions.

E3E is part of the German Aeronautics Research Programme, funded by the Ministry of Economics and the Federal State of Brandenburg.