Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks Completes Core Test for Small Engine

Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks has completed rig testing on a new core design for a small engine, successfully executing a rapid prototyping plan from design to test in under a year.

The prototype engine core was designed for limited-life applications with a key focus on low cost. The LibertyWorks team took an innovative approach to reducing cost at the component level and demonstrated the ability to reduce part count by utilizing 21st century technologies such as additive layer manufacturing.

John Kusnierek, Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks, Senior Vice President, Research & Technology, said, “These successful engine tests demonstrate the importance of an adaptable and scalable approach to small engines, allowing for cost reduction across multiple engine solutions. This approach was implemented in the small engine demonstrator and allows for rapid future growth of that core. Successful testing provides a foundation for future small engine demonstrators targeted at meeting the unique challenges of the limited life propulsion market.”

LibertyWorks also evaluated and identified areas where non-traditional materials could be substituted to achieve lower component costs, while still meeting requirements. LibertyWorks engaged an all-U.S. supply chain as well as small businesses to source the engine components.

The small engine demonstration also serves as a tool to baseline analytical tools and models, which will allow for shortened design time on future small engine solutions. The core engine hardware has been tested and can now be utilized to demonstrate future technology insertions that deliver additional cost reductions, performance improvements, or new capabilities.

LibertyWorks is an advanced technology and research organization based at Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis, US. LibertyWorks develops technology for the Department of Defense, NASA, DARPA, and other government entities, as well as the major U.S. airframe companies.

Rolls-Royce North America Inc., headquartered near Washington, D.C., has employees based at 27 locations literally coast to coast across the U.S. The company designs, develops, manufactures and services engines and propulsion systems for aircraft, ships and power generation. The U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army and Coast Guard all operate aircraft or ships with Rolls-Royce engines or propulsion systems.

Reducing the number of parts and continuously improving the use of new materials for aviation is necessary for both the main OEM and the airline to reduce the cost of aero-engine manufacturing and aircraft use. Under this background, the Gas Turbine Engine Simulation Technology Development Forum 2020 will be held on October 15^th -16^th, in Shenyang City, in China. The forum not only focused on domestic engine host units, but also invited several academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering to make reports on the first day, sharing and discussing about the research and development of gas turbine engine and its simulation technology. If you are interested in this, you are more than welcome to join us.

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