Taking aerospace efficiency to the next level
Significant progress has been made in reducing aircraft fuel burn over the past 50 years but Rolls-Royce is committed to achieving a further step-change in engine efficiency.
We are currently working with airframer and university partners on opportunities to reduce fuel consumption by using unducted fan or 'open rotor' systems.
By using two contra-rotating propellers driven by a gas turbine, fuel consumption - and CO2 emissions - can be reduced by 10-15 per cent compared to an equivalent technology turbofan. Using the latest 3D aerodynamics and novel architectures we aim to maintain the progression of continued noise reduction relative to current turbofan levels.
Securing a better understanding of the noise to emissions trade-off and developing the aerodynamic and mechanical technologies required to reduce any noise penalty are a major focus of our advanced research programmes.
New approaches
For the past four years we have been supporting a programme led by Cambridge University and MIT which is addressing new aircraft and engine integration concepts. The recently completed 'Silent Aircraft' programme demonstrated that by increasing the integration of the engine into the airframe and by using novel aerodynamic designs and control surfaces, it should be possible to reduce fuel burn by 25 per cent as well as reducing noise.
The aviation industry operates on a single fuel type - kerosene. The use of alternative fuels is a continuing focus of research for the company. We are working with a range of partners including the major fuel suppliers and the UK OMEGA University consortium. OMEGA's aim is to create a stronger, more informed knowledge base on a range of environmental issues.
More case studies
Case study
'Silent Aircraft' concept
The 'Silent Aircraft' concept was developed by
a 40 strong research team from Cambridge
University in the UK and MIT in the USA.
The low-noise, fuel-efficient SAX40 is designed
to carry 215 passengers for journeys of up to
5,000 miles, with noise estimated to be less than
63dBA outside the perimeter of a typical airfield,
and fuel consumption 25 per cent less than for
current aircraft. The engines use 'shape changing',
variable geometry exhausts, allowing optimisation
of engine performance for low noise at take-off
and low fuel burn at altitude.
