Rolls-Royce Reaches Future Technology Milestone As Advance3 Goes To Test

Rolls-Royce is reaching a new milestone in the development of its next generation of civil aerospace engines with the first run of its Advance3 demonstrator.

The demonstrator will test a new engine core that will deliver maximum fuel burn efficiency and low emissions. The core forms a key part of the Rolls-Royce Advance and UltraFan® engine designs, both of which form part of our future technology programme.

The demonstrator engine is now complete and is being readied for test in Derby, UK, with its first run expected in the coming days. Testing will initially confirm operational parameters with future tests designed to gather data on the performance of the engine across more than 2,800 parameters.

Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said: “We are about to take another step towards making our future technology strategy a reality. The new core architecture being tested in this demonstrator is a critical part of our strategy and will help us to deliver even better economic and environmental performance for our customers.”

The Advance3 core features a new “work split” with a two stage high pressure turbine and a single-stage intermediate pressure turbine. Engineers have attached the core to a Trent XWB fan system and a Trent 1000 low pressure turbine to create the completed demonstrator engine.

Other key technologies for UltraFan® are also making significant progress. The engine features a high-power gearbox, designed to deliver efficiency at high bypass ratios, which earlier this year achieved 70,000hp while on test in Dahlewitz, Germany, a new record in the aerospace industry.

UltraFan will offer a 25 per cent fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engine and will be available for service from 2025.

Advance3 receives funding and support from Clean Sky 2, the Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK.