UltraFan features a new engine core architecture and lean-burn combustion system, which will contribute to improved fuel burn efficiency and lower emissions, along with a carbon titanium fan blade system and composite casing which reduce weight.
One of the key elements is a geared design that delivers efficient power at high-bypass ratios.
Rolls-Royce is continuing to progress key technologies to support UltraFan. The Power Gearbox has successfully reached 70,000 horsepower, a record within the aerospace industry, while on test at Rolls-Royce’s dedicated facility in Dahlewitz, Germany. The Power Gearbox will play a central role in the company’s next-generation UltraFan® engine, helping to deliver improved efficiency over a wide range of thrusts.
When running at maximum power, each pair of teeth on the gearbox will transmit more power than an entire grid of Formula 1 cars between them.
The Power Gearbox has a planetary design, with each ‘planet’ capable of holding the force of a Trent XWB engine at full throttle. It is designed to allow the shafts at the core of the engine to run at very high speeds while allowing the fan at the front of the engine to run at a slower speed.