Rolls-Royce Conducts First Test of New UltraFan Jet Engine at Testbed 80 in Derby, England.
The British company Rolls-Royce claims that the UltraFan is the quietest and most fuel-efficient jet engine ever, delivering approximately 10% better fuel performance compared to the Trent XWB, currently the world’s most efficient jet engine, as reported by Interesting Engineering on May 20.
UltraFan is introduced as the world’s most efficient jet engine. (Photo: Rolls-Royce).
The first test of the UltraFan took place at the Testbed 80 facility in Singin, Derby. In this test, the new engine ran on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Rolls-Royce explains that this fuel is primarily made from raw materials derived from waste, such as cooking oil.
“UltraFan is the world’s largest testing jet engine, equipped with a series of new technologies that provide higher fuel efficiency, resulting in lower emissions and greater sustainability. These technologies can be scaled up and further developed to produce engines with thrust ranging from 11.3 tons to over 45.3 tons for narrow-body or wide-body aircraft,” Rolls-Royce explained.
According to Rolls-Royce, the UltraFan features a massive fan with a diameter of 355.6 cm and a relatively small core, which is key to the efficiency of the new engine. The engine provides 64 MW of power during testing and improves fuel consumption by 25% compared to competitors like Trent.
“UltraFan is designed for the future – it is ready to run on 100% SAF from day one of operation. Additionally, we are actively exploring potential options for hydrogen and hybrid electric power solutions,” Rolls-Royce stated.
This new test marks a significant step towards the aerospace industry’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The UltraFan project, funded by the UK government, was announced in 2014 and continues to develop to this day.
“This advanced technology will be beneficial in the transition to a greener future for the aviation industry, while also attracting further investment into the UK’s aerospace sector, helping to grow the economy,” said Kemi Badenoch, the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
