Successfully Operated On Fuel Blend During Phase I Ground Tests

Pratt & Whitney told attendees to this week's Singapore Air Show the company's Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine successfully operated using an alternative fuel blend during Phase I ground testing in West Palm Beach, FL.

The enginemaker -- along with engineers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in a partnership under the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics program -- completed the test using a synthetic fuel blend as part of a program comparing potential emissions benefits for future aircraft applications.

"The Geared Turbofan engine is setting new standards for environmental performance and jet propulsion efficiency," said Bob Saia, vice president, Next Generation Product Family, Pratt & Whitney. "The successful demonstration of alternative fuels on our Geared Turbofan engine validates the flexibility of this engine's design to take advantage of multiple sources of fuel and leverage the environmental and economic benefits available today."

The Geared Turbofan engine employs a state-of-the-art gear system to allow the engine's fan to operate independent of the low-pressure compressor and turbine, resulting in greater fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and a slower fan speed for less noise. As ANN reported, Phase I testing on the powerplant wrapped up earlier this month, ahead of schedule.

Pratt & Whitney says it is "aggressively" researching and testing alternative fuels for the aviation industry. In addition to the Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine, the company has partnered with the US Air Force to test and certify alternative fuels for the TF33-powered B-52 aircraft and F117-powered C-17 transport. The C-17 recently completed its first transcontinental flight operating entirely on a blended synthetic fuel.

As part of Pratt & Whitney's overall alternative fuel research, the company will conduct additional ground and flight tests across a range of products. Current plans for testing this year include commercial, military and business jet engines.

FMI: www.pw.utc.com