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Technology update
TECH56 component testing
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CFM International has begun test programs on two major components – a six-stage high-pressure compressor and a reduced-shock high-pressure turbine – as part of the validation phase of Project TECH56. The project was initiated by the company to identify and validate advanced new technology that could be used in the development of new engine designs as well as upgrades to current CFM56 engines.
The compressor rig will run for approximately 100 h over six weeks and will validate the performance, operability, and aeromechanical characteristics of the design. The high-pressure turbine, which features a new blade design, will run for about 75 h over a four-week period.
CFM engineers will complete extensive performance mapping of the six-stage compressor from below the nominal operating line to stall, across various variable stator settings and tip clearance levels. The rig used in the testing will be instrumented with both aerodynamic and mechanical sensors. The data will provide a good understanding of the compressor's operation over a wide range of conditions.
The compressor design incorporates the latest advancements in 3-D aerodynamics, achieving a higher-pressure ratio with fewer stages (six versus the current nine). The result is a compact, rugged compressor with fewer parts to further reduce
maintenance costs.
Building on its experience base of more than 145 million flight hours with a single-stage high-pressure turbine configuration, CFM has developed a new turbine design that reduces the downstream turbine shock strength and improves the interaction between the high- and low-pressure turbines. These reduced shock blades represent a major step forward for the company in turbine technology. The improved interaction between the high- and low-pressure turbines will provide significant efficiency gains and could result in as much as a one percent improvement in fuel burn. CFM will continue to validate this technology with dual spool rig tests later this year, including a counter-rotating turbine.
Frank Bokulich
Aerospace Engineering June 2000
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