The Geared Turbofan Now Has A Name
Pratt & Whitney announced the
launch of its PurePower engines -- a new family of next-generation
commercial and business jet engines designed to offer double-digit
improvements in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise
and operating costs. The announcement was made with Pratt &
Whitney partners and customers during an unveiling event at the
Farnborough International Air Show outside of London, England.
The first products to enter service will be the PurePower
PW1000G engine -- formerly referred to as the Geared Turbofan
engine -- and the PurePower PW800 engine.
"Airlines and business aircraft customers want pure engine
solutions that deliver economic and environmental benefits without
compromises," said Pratt & Whitney President Steve Finger.
"Pratt & Whitney PurePower engines employ game-changing
technologies to deliver step-change improvements in environmental
performance and operating costs. Pratt & Whitney is the only
engine company bringing brand new technologies to the market at a
time when airline customers and operators need a comprehensive
solution the most."
Pratt & Whitney says the PurePower engine family represents
a step-change from the company's legacy engines, both in engine
performance and in naming convention. With the first PurePower
engines entering service in 2013, a new standard will be set for
all future engines to build upon. PurePower engines are new
centerline engines that deliver comprehensive environmental
performance including double-digit improvements in fuel burn,
environmental emissions and engine noise, while bringing value to
airlines and operators with a double- digit reduction in operating
costs. PurePower engines will also be capable of operating on
alternative fuels.
The PurePower PW1000G engine is the exclusive power for the new
Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the Bombardier CSeries, which
as ANN reported was formally launched Sunday
with a 60-plane Letter of Intent from Lufthansa. Both aircraft are
scheduled to enter service in 2013. The PW1000G engine uses a
state-of-the-art gear system to allow the engine's fan to operate
at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine,
resulting in greater fuel efficiency and a slower fan speed for
reduced noise.
A full-scale PW1000G demonstrator engine recently completed a
250-hour ground test program and has begun flight-testing on Pratt
& Whitney's Boeing 747 flight test bed. The engine will perform
additional flight-testing on an Airbus-owned A340 later this
year.
The PurePower PW810C engine was selected by Cessna to power the
Citation Columbus business jet, which is scheduled to enter service
in 2014. The engine incorporates advanced fan, compressor, turbine
and low-emissions TALON combustion systems for reduced fuel
consumption, future thrust-growth capability and improved
environmental performance.
Detailed design work as well as advanced production preparations
are underway. Pratt & Whitney Canada engineers are now entering
into the detail design of various components with collaboration
from suppliers and other partners.