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The company will develop technologies including X-ray imaging and new joining techniques as part of four projects supporting the UltraFan engine.
The projects, which also include the design and testing of new materials for higher speeds and temperatures, aim to save money spent on fuel and reduce emissions. Fuel traditionally accounts for around 40% of a plane’s running costs.
The work will “underline the aerospace industry’s commitment to improving the environment,” said Chris Cholerton, president of civil aerospace at Rolls-Royce. Experts predict that air pollution from flights will rise dramatically in the coming decades as air traffic increases. A 2016 EU report predicted a 43% rise in NOx emissions from European flights between 2014 and 2035.
Supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute, Innovate UK and academic partners, the projects are worth a total £58.3m. The most expensive development, the £22.7m Proving Advanced Concept Engine (Pace), will develop X-ray imaging to validate the next generation of engines.
The £8m Cutting edge Approaches for Joining of RR1073 (Cajorr) project aims to develop a new joining capability for high-temperature nickel, while the £9.2m External Component Integration of Technologies for Engines (Excite) project will work on five technologies, including a pipework modelling system and heat shield assembly.
Worth £18.4m, the Enabling Novel Controls and Advanced Sensors for Engines (Encase) project will develop technologies needed for the control system in the UltraFan demonstrator.
“As the home of the first turbojet engine, the UK has a long, proud heritage in aerospace and these pioneering Rolls-Royce projects will ensure it is the UK that leads the world in developing the next generation of cleaner jet engine technologies,” said business secretary Greg Clark, speaking at a ground-breaking event for a new Rolls-Royce facility in Derby.
The government's recognition of the UK's strength in aircraft production is promising, said Coorous Mohtadi, academic technical specialist for engineering software company MathWorks. However, he added, more funding should go towards STEM education and upskilling to ensure the best people are available for the ambitious projects.
"A government report into the digital skills crisis found that, unless we meet this demand, we are at risk of costing the UK economy an estimated £63bn a year in the lost potential for additional GDP – money that could be invested in future initiatives such as those with Rolls-Royce," he said.
"Currently, the engineering industry is short of 69,000 skilled employees a year, and taking into account the need to replace people retiring or leaving the profession, we will need over a million new engineers a year to ensure growth within the industry, according to EngineeringUK."
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.