Rolls-Royce’s Advance3 engine pioneering with 3D printed parts

The technology demonstrator engine is proving both technology and a new core for Rolls-Royce UltraFan engine design which will be available from 2025. Advance3, incorporating around 20,000 parts in total, has achieved more than 100 hours on test. Initial results are showing excellent performance from parts made by a printing technique known as additive layer manufacturing (more commonly known as 3D printing) and also made from ceramic matrix composites.

ALM allows engineers to create new designs for parts, and for those parts to be made and redesigned more quickly. CMCs last longer in high temperatures and are lighter than metal alternatives.

Engineers have downloaded millions of data points from the tests, which began last November and saw the engine achieve full power in July. Advance3 plays an important part in delivering the IntelligentEngine, Rolls-Royce’s vision for the future, as it builds on pioneering technology and digital capabilities to deliver important benefits for customers.

Ash Owen, Rolls-Royce, Chief Engineer, Civil Aerospace Demonstrator Programmes, said: “Testing so far has been completely seamless, which is an outstanding achievement when you realise that this is an engine incorporating a range of new technologies as well as a brand new core architecture. We have completed our first phase of testing and analysing the results right now. We like what we see from the CMC and ALM parts performance. ”

CMC components are able to withstand higher operating temperatures, and require much less cooling air, while delivering a significant weight reduction, all contributing to improved efficiency.

ALM allows more complex engine elements with multiple pieces to be manufactured in fewer parts or even as a single complete part, improving lead times and allowing components to be redesigned quickly and easily during the development phase. Rolls-Royce has been at the forefront of innovation with this process, flying the world’s largest 3-D printed aerospace structure within the Trent XWB-97 engine that was tested in 2015. ALM also increases production efficiency and reduces component weight while providing the ability to manufacture designs and shapes that would not be possible using conventional methods.

The Advance3 demonstrator is testing a new engine core that will deliver optimum fuel efficiency and low emissions. It is a key element in Rolls-Royce’s future technology strategy to develop the Advance core for the UltraFan engine design that will be available from 2025 and will offer a 25 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency compared with a first generation Trent engine.

On the demonstrator, the new core operates between a Trent XWB fan system and a Trent 1000 low pressure turbine, and its compressor system helps to deliver an UltraFan overall pressure ratio of up to 70:1.

The Advance3 demonstrator programme is co-funded through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) in association with Innovate UK and Clean Sky 2.