Rolls-Royce UltraFan Demonstrator Achieves Maximum Power On 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Rolls-Royce unveils that it has successfully run its UltraFan technology demonstrator to maximum power at its facility in Derby, UK. The initial stage of the test was conducted using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The UltraFan team tested the demonstrator earlier this year, gradually increasing its power as part of their rigorous testing regime, and it has performed as expected.

The results of the test are a record for value-based learning and data, which will be used for continuous analysis.

UltraFan offers a 10 per cent efficiency improvement over Trent XWB and a 25 per cent efficiency gain since the launch of the first Trent engine, confirming its potential for improved aero-engine efficiency.

UltraFan’s scalable technology of ~25,000–110,000 lb thrust also offers the potential to power the new narrowbody and widebody aircraft anticipated in the 2030s.

As part of the UltraFan development programme, it has identified several technologies that are potentially transferable to the current Trent engines, which will provide buyers with availability, reliability and efficiency.

Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce plc, stated, “Hitting full power with our UltraFan demonstrator sends a strong message that Rolls-Royce is at the cutting-edge of innovation and technology, leading the way in the transition to more efficient and sustainable aviation. This fantastic milestone puts us in a strong position to support the plans of our customers as they develop the next generation of super-efficient aircraft.”

Testing the demonstrator is the culmination of many years of work, which the UK Government has supported through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Innovate UK, the EU’s Clean Sky programmes, LuFo and the State of Brandenburg in Germany.

Simon Burr, Group Director of Engineering, Technology and Safety, Rolls-Royce plc, added, “We estimate that to reach Net Zero flying by 2050, a combination of highly-efficient, latest-generation gas turbines such as UltraFan operating on 100 per cent SAF are likely to contribute around 80 per cent of the total solution, which is why the UltraFan demonstrator run to full power took place in the world’s largest and smartest indoor aero-engine testing facility, Testbed 80, in Derby, UK. Today’s announcement is such an important milestone for Rolls-Royce and the wider industry.”

UltraFan has been a decade in the making, with the concept unveiled publicly in 2014. It is a fundamentally different design architecture to that within the approximately 4,200 Rolls-Royce Civil large engines currently in service, as it incorporates a geared design that no other industry player has produced at this size before.

Rolls-Royce's scale demonstration allows buyers to adjust the size as needed, enabling the company to offer a range of propulsion solutions for future aircraft.