Overview
The GTF (Geared TurboFan) engine represents one of the most promising architectural innovations in the aeronautical market, meeting requirements of constant improvement in engine performance in terms of fuel consumption, noise and gas emission.
The concept which this engine architecture is based on involves the mechanical uncoupling of the turbine shaft from the fan section, by means of introduction of an epicyclic Power GearBox, named Integral Drive System (IDS). This solution, by adding a further degree of freedom to the system, allows the separate optimization of both power turbine and fan in terms of rotational speed, with overall enhancement of the whole engine performance.
As a result, the IDS represents a new engine core module.
The GTFTR project, in line with the objectives defined by the Topic Manager (TM) in the call for proposal (CfP), aimed at performing a demonstration on a purposely developed full scale power test rig of the technologies matured by the TM within the Clean Sky frame.
The approach proposed by the Topic is innovative since it opens the collaboration on the experimental validation phase, which is generally retained by the system design responsible, with the Applicant.
The Applicant is a Consortium of three partners: University of Pisa (Coordinator), AM Testing srl and Catarsi Ing. Piero & c. srl.
Funding
Results
Executive Summary:
The Geared Turbo Fan engine represents one of the most promising architectural innovations in the aeronautical market, which meets the requirements of constant improvement in engine performance in terms of fuel consumption, noise and gas emission.
The concept on which this engine architecture is based involves the mechanical uncoupling of the turbine shaft from the fan section, by means of introducing an epicyclic Power Gearbox (PGB), named Integral Drive System (IDS). By adding a further degree of freedom to the system, this solution allowed the separate optimisation of both power turbine and fan in terms of rotational speed, with overall enhancement of the whole engine performance
As a result, the IDS represents a new engine core module.
In accordance with objectives defined by the Topic Manager (TM) in the call for proposal (CfP), the pGTFTR project aimed at performing a demonstration on a full scale power rig of the technologies developed by the TM within the Clean Sky frame.
The approach proposed by the Topic is innovative since it opens the collaboration on the experimental validation phase, which is generally retained by the system design responsible being strongly close to the design, with an external Partner.
Therefore the opportunity given to the Consortium was to demonstrate its capability to propose itself as a technological partner which can be useful for promoting future collaboration.
The Consortium was strongly interested to establish long lasting collaborations focused on development of advanced technologies for transmission systems like future geared engines.
The collaboration between the TM and the Consortium moved the project conclusion forward.
Such future collaboration could leverage the GTFTR project results including sharing of the developed test rig as required by the CfP Topic, through forms to be agreed (inclusive but not limited to transfer of property).
The research theme proposed by the CfP Topic met the scientific interests and the strategic aims of Consortium Partners.
The participation to the GTFTR project was in accordance with the strategic proposition of the Partners, which have already experience of successful collaborations among them and intend to reinforce the existing relationship.
In agreement with this approach DICI had already launched an initiative to enhance the capability of its experimental center by means of a new test facility dedicated to both power transmissions and rotordynamics. This initiative, developed with the support of important international Companies was also supported by Tuscany Region.