Power Gearbox in the Rolls-Royce UltraFan® Engine Sets Record
70,000 horsepower – this was the record-breaking level of power achieved last year by what is the world’s most powerful aerospace gearbox. It is a key component of the new Rolls- Royce UltraFan® engine, which is expected to be ready for service from 2025.
In order to develop manufacturing capability and capacity for manufacturing the new power gearbox, Rolls-Royce is working with Liebherr-Aerospace through the “Aerospace Transmission Technologies” joint venture, based in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Part of the UltraFan® gearbox © 2018 Rolls-Royce plc
At the Rolls-Royce test center in Dahlewitz © 2018 Rolls-Royce plc
A new test rig for the extensive tests © 2018 Rolls-Royce plc
The power gearbox is a key component of the future UltraFan® engine. It allows the fan (which is massive and easily visible on the front of the engine) to operate in a low speed range which is ideal aerodynamically and acoustically.
The gearbox is being developed primarily at Rolls-Royce in Dahlewitz, where tests are taking place on a new test rig. It is being designed to run at up to 100,000 horsepower, which makes it the world’s most powerful aerospace gearbox.
Paul Stein, Chief Technology Officer at Rolls-Royce, commented on reaching 70,000 horsepower in the tests as follows: “Setting this record is a great achievement for the team and I’m proud we’ve managed to get there so quickly. Our power gearbox technology is central to the success of the next generation of Rolls-Royce engines and I’m pleased to see us setting new standards with our work.”
It is easier to imagine the massive forces involved if the horsepower figure is converted: The power gearbox in the new system needs to be capable of managing the equivalent power of around 500 family cars.
