Low Pressure System Component Advancements and its Impact on Future Turbofan Engine Emissions

Paper i proceeding, 2009

Within the European research project EnVIronmenTALly Friendly Aero Engines, VITAL, a number of low pressure system component technologies are being investigated. The emerging progress will allow the design of new power plants capable of providing a step change in engine fuel burn and noise. As part of the VITAL project a Technoeconomic, Environmental and Risk Assessment tool, the TERA2020, is being developed. Within this tool, means to assess the impact of component technology progress on the engine/aircraft system level has been implemented. Sensitivities relating parameters traditionally used to describe component performance, such as allowable shaft torque, low pressure turbine stage loading, fan blade weight and system level parameters have previously been published. The current paper makes an assessment of the impact of failing to deliver specific technology advancements, as researched under the VITAL project. The impact has been quantified, in terms of power plant noise and CO2 emissions.