Highlights of the year
- First flight and on-time certification of the Trent 900 with advanced swept fan blade technology for the Airbus A380 aircraft.
- Launch and completion of concept design of the Trent 1000 with its unique power off-take system for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
- First run of the F136 demonstrator engine with its unique friction bonded fan blades and Lamilloy® combustor for the Joint Strike Fighter.
- Qualification of the mechanical drive version of the industrial Trent 60 with its advanced low emission combustion system for the Dolphin Energy Limited gas pipeline.
- Certification of the MT30, adapted from the Trent 800 civil
engine for
marine applications. - First run of our new solid-oxide fuel cell sub-system at temperature and pressure demonstrating high levels of efficiency.
- Opening of two new University Technology Centres (UTCs) in Europe and a multipurpose Advanced Technology Centre in Singapore.
Research and development is key to the success of the Group. Last
year we invested a total of £601 million in research and
development and prepared 250 patent applications. Our aim is to
maximise the benefit of this investment by creating technology and
methods once, but using them in many parts of our business.
We address the whole product life cycle, from applied research in new materials, manufacturing methods, analytical tools and design concepts to the development of new products and the management of their operational lives through the development of our service capabilities.
We have continued to expand our external research network. The opening of the new University Technology Centres (UTCs) at Genoa and the University of Manchester in the exciting new technology fields of fuel cells and electrical systems in extreme environments, respectively, were examples of this. The technology demonstration programme for our special solid-oxide fuel cell concept continued to make good progress. The first tests at temperature and pressure of a cell sub-system fully confirmed the anticipated high efficiency levels that will be unique to our design.
An Advanced Technology Centre has been created in Singapore to investigate a number of research fields including advanced low cost manufacturing methods, new materials, particularly related to fuel cells, and high performance computing, particularly related to advanced computational fluid dynamics which is applied
to aerospace, energy and marine product programmes.
Good progress has been made on the JSF propulsion system programmes. The first full engine test of the integrated F135 LiftSystem took place on schedule. The unique LiftFan, which provides vertical lift for the F-35 (JSF), has wide-chord fan blade technology, derived from our large civil engine programme. Advanced analysis developed by our University Technology Centre (UTC) at Imperial College was used to ensure the blades could operate efficiently and reliably in the harsh aerodynamic environment demanded by JSF. The alternate engine for the JSF is the joint GE/Rolls-Royce F136 and the demonstrator had a successful first run.
The Trent family has continued to progress with the first flight and on-time engine certification of the Trent 900 for the Airbus A380 aircraft and the launch of the Trent 1000 for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. We believe that cost effective, high performance engines are produced best by building on the proven design of the Trent family and inserting new technology when appropriate to this reliable base. Both engines have the advanced technology swept fan blades developed for minimal environmental noise impact using new analytical techniques from our Noise UTC at Southampton University.
The Trent 1000 will feature a unique power off-take system for improved fuel efficiency, which is being designed with support from the Transmissions UTC at Nottingham University. The Trent 900 and Trent 1000 will feature advanced condition monitoring systems and improved materials and designs to further improve the life and reliability of the Trent family and to give cost effective service to our customers.
Our strategy of invent once and use many times is typified by the adaptation of the Trent 800 for the marine and energy markets. The marine variant, the MT30, has achieved certification and installation design work is well advanced for the US Navy DD(X) Destroyer and Littoral Combat Ship demonstrator programmes. The energy variant, the industrial Trent 60, has achieved qualification for mechanical drive applications and will be delivered in 2005 for the Dolphin Energy Limited gas pipeline. Each variant requires a combustion system specific to that market but we use common tools and materials to design combustors for each application. The industrial Trent 60 utilises the advanced low emissions design essential for the energy sector and incorporates a low vibration-damping concept which was created by the Combustion UTC at Cambridge University. This same concept is being applied to the development of a new, environmentally friendly, low emission combustor for future engines for civil aircraft.
We will continue to pursue advances in technology, processes, products and services through focused investment in research and development using the exceptional and extensive skills within our own workforce and by collaboration with universities, partners, suppliers and customers.
We address the whole product life cycle, from applied research in new materials, manufacturing methods, analytical tools and design concepts to the development of new products and the management of their operational lives through the development of our service capabilities.
We have continued to expand our external research network. The opening of the new University Technology Centres (UTCs) at Genoa and the University of Manchester in the exciting new technology fields of fuel cells and electrical systems in extreme environments, respectively, were examples of this. The technology demonstration programme for our special solid-oxide fuel cell concept continued to make good progress. The first tests at temperature and pressure of a cell sub-system fully confirmed the anticipated high efficiency levels that will be unique to our design.
An Advanced Technology Centre has been created in Singapore to investigate a number of research fields including advanced low cost manufacturing methods, new materials, particularly related to fuel cells, and high performance computing, particularly related to advanced computational fluid dynamics which is applied
to aerospace, energy and marine product programmes.
Good progress has been made on the JSF propulsion system programmes. The first full engine test of the integrated F135 LiftSystem took place on schedule. The unique LiftFan, which provides vertical lift for the F-35 (JSF), has wide-chord fan blade technology, derived from our large civil engine programme. Advanced analysis developed by our University Technology Centre (UTC) at Imperial College was used to ensure the blades could operate efficiently and reliably in the harsh aerodynamic environment demanded by JSF. The alternate engine for the JSF is the joint GE/Rolls-Royce F136 and the demonstrator had a successful first run.
The Trent family has continued to progress with the first flight and on-time engine certification of the Trent 900 for the Airbus A380 aircraft and the launch of the Trent 1000 for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. We believe that cost effective, high performance engines are produced best by building on the proven design of the Trent family and inserting new technology when appropriate to this reliable base. Both engines have the advanced technology swept fan blades developed for minimal environmental noise impact using new analytical techniques from our Noise UTC at Southampton University.
The Trent 1000 will feature a unique power off-take system for improved fuel efficiency, which is being designed with support from the Transmissions UTC at Nottingham University. The Trent 900 and Trent 1000 will feature advanced condition monitoring systems and improved materials and designs to further improve the life and reliability of the Trent family and to give cost effective service to our customers.
Our strategy of invent once and use many times is typified by the adaptation of the Trent 800 for the marine and energy markets. The marine variant, the MT30, has achieved certification and installation design work is well advanced for the US Navy DD(X) Destroyer and Littoral Combat Ship demonstrator programmes. The energy variant, the industrial Trent 60, has achieved qualification for mechanical drive applications and will be delivered in 2005 for the Dolphin Energy Limited gas pipeline. Each variant requires a combustion system specific to that market but we use common tools and materials to design combustors for each application. The industrial Trent 60 utilises the advanced low emissions design essential for the energy sector and incorporates a low vibration-damping concept which was created by the Combustion UTC at Cambridge University. This same concept is being applied to the development of a new, environmentally friendly, low emission combustor for future engines for civil aircraft.
We will continue to pursue advances in technology, processes, products and services through focused investment in research and development using the exceptional and extensive skills within our own workforce and by collaboration with universities, partners, suppliers and customers.