Advanced Transmission and Oil System Concepts for Modern Aero-Engines

Abstract

For better efficiency of modern gas turbine aero-engines, higher compressor pressure ratios, operating temperatures and shaft speeds are proposed which lead to increased demands also on transmission and oil system components. As a response to these demands, the European research project “Advanced Transmission and Oil System Concepts” (ATOS) was established to develop innovative transmission and oil system concepts in commercial gas turbines. The present paper, written by the project co-ordinator, discusses the design trends and objectives of recent research work. Furthermore, the main results of experimental and theoretical work on hybrid (ceramic) bearings, two-phase flow visualization and heat generation in bearing chambers, auto ignition temperature of oils for oil fire prevention, air/oil separation, novel electrically driven oil pumps, shaft buckling as well as dual-alloy shaft technology are presented. Special emphasis will be on two-phase flow aspects related to bearing chambers in aero engines.