Press Release
Award-winning technology: MTU is working on tomorrow’s engine
 Pratt & Whitney and MTU are building the engine of the future
 High-pressure compressors and low-pressure turbines made by MTU are
among the finest to be found in the global marketplace
Berlin, May 20, 2014 – Tomorrow’s engines call for innovative ideas. The
growing mobility needs of billions of people, limited raw materials and
acerbating ecological problems leave little doubt that new engine solutions must
go beyond existing concepts. Current projections assume that air traffic will
keep growing at a rate of around five percent a year. To mitigate and reduce the
impact on the environment, therefore, tomorrow's aircraft must be fuel-thriftier,
quieter and cleaner.
MTU Aero Engines has for years been working on new technologies to further
improve the environmental compatibility of future engines. Closely cooperating
with the major players in the business, Germany's leading engine manufacturer
develops novel propulsion systems and technologies in all thrust and power
categories. Today, the company has carved out leading positions in essential
engine technologies: High-pressure compressors, low-pressure turbines,
manufacturing and repair technologies made by MTU are among the finest to
be found in the global marketplace. With over 400 patent applications a year in
Germany and abroad, MTU aims to secure its technological edge in these core
competencies.
Progress in engine construction essentially depends on whether manufacturers
succeed in improving two physical key parameters: propulsion efficiency and
thermal efficiency. Each efficiency enhance-ment reduces pollutant and noise
emissions.
Geared turbofan engine
The future belongs to the geared turbofan (GTF) engine. It features a reduction
gearbox between the fan and low-pressure turbine; on conventional engines,
the two are rigidly interconnected through a shaft. Because of the gearbox, the
large-diameter fan can run slower and the turbine much faster, permitting both
components to operate at their best. The result is a significant reduction in fuel
consumption, emissions of carbon dioxide and noise. The GTF is being
developed and built by Pratt & Whitney in cooperation with MTU; its introduction
will mark the debut of a new family of PurePower® PW1000G engines. Among
its key components are the unique, high-speed low-pressure turbine made by
MTU and a high-pressure compressor jointly built by Pratt & Whitney and MTU.
Las year, MTU was honored with two German innovation awards for the high-
MTU Aero Engines AG
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speed low-pressure turbine. In its main application, the GTF is one of the reengining options for the Airbus A320neo. Other applications are Bombardier's
CSeries, Mitsubishi's MRJ regional aircraft, Irkut's new MS-21 short- and
medium-haul jet airliner, and the upgraded versions of Embraer’s E-170 and E190 family of aircraft. To date, over 50 airlines worldwide have ordered more
than 5,300 geared turbofan engines.
Claire
Under its Clean Air Engine technology initiative, or Claire for short, the company
combines key technologies to build an advanced commercial engine that will
burn 40 percent less fuel, emit 40 percent less carbon dioxide and cut the
perceived noise level by 65 percent by the year 2050. Plans are to achieve the
CO2 and noise targets defined by ACARE in its Strategic Research and
Innovation Agenda (SRIA) in three stages.
15 percent, 25 percent, 40 percent less carbon dioxide – these are the staged
goals of Claire. In the first stage, the GTF engine alone already provides a
reduction in fuel consumption and, hence, carbon dioxide emissions by up to 15
percent and appreciably cuts noise levels by 50 percent. Concept studies
conducted as part of the second stage of Claire indicate that the geared
turbofan configuration lends itself as a platform for further development and
improvement. For example, it is quite conceivable that the bypass ratio can be
further increased by the year 2030. Moreover, the thermal efficiency of the core
engine can be enhanced by higher pressure ratios and temperatures, the
objective being to improve fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 25 percent. The
third and last stage of Claire is aimed at further optimizing the propulsion
efficiency. In addition, plans are to use a highly efficient heat engine for
enhanced power generation, possibly based on recuperative technologies.
MTU is involved in essential national and international research projects. The
company has major roles also in the national German Aviation Research
Program and the European Union's Clean Sky, ENOVAL, LEMCOTEC and EBREAK projects.
German Aviation Research Program
MTU is the leading industrial partner on the German Aviation Research
Program in the field of propulsion systems. The company cooperates closely
with universities and research institutes, focusing on the development of new
improved-efficiency high-pressure compressor and low-pressure turbine
technologies. The development of the successful GTF technologies is owed to
no small extent also to the funding granted under this national program. Part of
the program, moreover, is devoted to optimizing blisk manufacturing
techniques. Blisk stands for blade integrated disk, a construction that improves
strength and reduces weight. MTU has carved out a globally leading position in
blisk technology.
Clean Sky
The Clean Sky program was launched in the fall of 2008 and is scheduled to
run until 2017. Clean Sky forms part of the Joint Technology Initiative of the
European Union’s 7th Framework Program. In all, 600 partners are currently
involved in the research work. With an overall budget of 1.6 billion euros, 800
million of which are funded by the EU, Clean Sky is the biggest research
program ever undertaken by the European Union.
Clean Sky encompasses six so-called Integrated Technology Demonstrators
(ITDs) and one Technology Evaluator. Within the SAGE (Sustainable and
Green Engine) ITD of Clean Sky five engine demonstrators in different thrust
classes and for different market segments will be built and tested by 2015. One
of the sub-projects (SAGE-4) is led by MTU. It is pursued with the aim to further
develop the geared turbofan technology, in particular the low-pressure section,
in cooperation with other European partners, and test and validate it.
The aim is to demonstrate the maturity of the technologies for new, lowerweight constructions and materials when subjected to further increased
mechanical and thermal loads, and to validate advanced aerodynamic blading
designs. These technologies serve to make future GTF engines even more
efficient and lighter in weight. The successor project Clean Sky 2 will build on
the results achieved so far. MTU plans to take a major role also in the new
program, hoping to be again entrusted with the design of an engine
demonstrator.
Enoval
MTU’s most recent European technology program is Enoval (Engine module
Validators). Funded under the EU’s 7th Framework Program, the MTU-led
project will run for four years. ENOVAL was launched in October last year. 35
European partners from industry, research and academe are developing new
low-pressure spool technologies for medium-sized, large and very large
turbofans – geared and non-geared -, the aim being to achieve a reduction in
CO2 emissions of up to five percent and a reduction in noise of up to 1.3 dB.
These improvements will be achieved by increasing bypass ratios to between
12:1 and 20:1 and overall pressure ratios to between 50:1 and 70 :1. MTU is
focusing on the integration and optimization of the expansion system, which
consist of the inter-turbine case, low-pressure turbine and turbine exit case.
LEMCOTEC
Under the LEMCOTEC (Low Emissions Core-Engine Technologies) project, 35
partners are exploring until 2015 options to increase the overall pressure ratio
(OPR) to further enhance the thermal efficiency of future engines. MTU is
responsible for two work packages involving the design, construction and
testing of a new high-pressure compressor with an unprecedented pressure
ratio, which will feature lighter high-temperature materials and an advanced
secondary air system.
E-BREAK
The EU’s E-BREAK (Engine Breakthrough Components and Subsystems)
technology program is aimed at further reducing the fuel consumption and CO 2
emissions of future propulsion systems and to extend their service lives by
improving components and engine systems, such as sealing, material and
condition monitoring technologies. The four-year program, which is funded under the
EU’s 7th Framework Program, was launched in 2012, 42 partners are working together. MTU
is involved in several sub-projects and investigates new abradable systems,
simulation methods, the light-weight material titanium aluminide as well engine
monitoring systems.
About MTU Aero Engines
MTU Aero Engines is Germany's leading engine manufacturer and has been a key player in the
global engine industry for 80 years. It engages in the development, manufacture, marketing and
support of commercial and military aircraft engine modules and industrial gas turbines. The
company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors,
manufacturing processes and repair techniques. Figuring significantly among MTU's core
competencies are the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of commercial engines and the
service support it provides for industrial gas turbines. These activities are combined under the
roof of MTU Maintenance, which is one of the world’s largest providers of commercial engine
MRO services. MTU operates affiliates around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate
headquarters. In fiscal 2013, the company had a workforce of some 8,700 employees and
posted consolidated sales of some 3.7 billion euros.
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Senior Manager Press & PR
Phone: +49 (0)89 14 89-26 98
Mobile: +49 (0) 170-799 6377
Email: Melanie.Wolf@mtu.de
Martina Vollmuth
Press Officer Aviation
Phone: +49 (0)89 14 89-53 33
Mobile: +49 (0) 176-1001 7133
Email: Martina.Vollmuth@mtu.de
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