The Rolls Royce Power GearBox - Webinar

28 August 2024

Over 120 members attended our Power GearBox (PGB) Webinar, delivered by Rolls Royce, Sonja Nachtigal (Chief Project Engineer PGB), who covered both technical and programme details of the PGB.

The Rolls-Royce UltraFan is a demonstrator aero engine – the largest in the world – containing a suite of new technologies that deliver greater fuel efficiency, which in turn means lower emissions and greater sustainability. UltraFan offers a 25% fuel burn improvement on the first generation of Trent engines.

Phase 1 of testing UF001 has been completed, with the engine running to full power, >85,000lbs of thrust. The technologies in the engine are scalable, capable of being developed to create an engine with a thrust range of ~25,000lb to 110,000lb, for narrowbody or widebody aircraft that may be developed from the 2030s.

The Power Gearbox (PGB) is at the heart of the geared system that delivers UltraFan’s high bypass efficiency – enabling the demonstrator core to drive the very large fan blades. On test, the PGB has reached 64MW (87,000 horsepower) an aerospace record and equivalent to the power requirements for a city the size of Bath, UK.