Gears Steer New Engine Designs

Abstract

This article reviews the development of geared turbofan (GTF) engines. GTF engines have a hub-mounted epicyclic gearbox that drives the front-mounted fan at lower rotational speeds than the engine turbine section that powers the fan. The turbine driving the fan is most efficient at high-rotational speeds. The fan operates most efficiently and creates less noise at lower rpm. The operating gear reduction ratio also permits increasing the engine’s bypass ratio with larger fans. Gear trains are one of the oldest known machines, and none is more closely identified by the general public with the profession of mechanical engineering. Pratt & Whitney is in production of their first generation of GTF engines in the 18,000–30,000 lbt range, which power twin engine single-aisle, narrow body 70–200 passenger aircraft. The GTF combines existing jet engine technology with the well-established mechanical engineering technology of gears.