General Electric Company : A world's first: Nexcelle successfully tests its thrust reverser for next-generation Integrated Propulsion Systems
07/05/2012| 10:05am US/Eastern
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Nexcelle,
the nacelle systems joint venture of GE's Middle River Aircraft Systems
and the Safran group's Aircelle, has completed a successful test program
for the advanced thrust reverser element of its next-generation
Integrated Propulsion System (IPS) technology.
The thrust reverser was validated with Nexcelle's new nacelle
demonstrator, called PANACHE
(Pylon And Nacelle Advanced Configuration for High Efficiency), which
logged a combined total of more than 47 hours in operation on Test Stand
3E at GE Aviation's Peebles, Ohio facility. PANACHE was installed on a
CFM56-5C jet engine, which represents one of the propulsion system
categories for which Nexcelle is developing its integrated nacelle
designs.
Test runs with PANACHE - involving 200 cycles representing normal
deployments, rejected take-off deployments and aborted landings - were
completed a week ahead of schedule, demonstrating the maturity of
Nexcelle's IPS design and hardware.
"Our PANACHE testing was a major milestone and provides the first
full-scale demonstration of a key element in the next-generation of
integrated propulsion systems," said Nexcelle President Huntley Myrie.
"The thrust reverser performed exactly as anticipated, enabling testing
to be wrapped ahead of the original schedule - which is a testimony to
the development and production teams at our parent companies, and the
test personnel at GE Aviation's Peebles facility."
Key elements of Nexcelle's advanced thrust reverser configuration
include a one-piece composite O-Duct, which replaces the two-piece "D"
doors on a traditional thrust reverser. With the O-Duct's continuous
composite structure, the IPS' thrust reverser benefits from reduced
weight, while also eliminating the D-doors' bifurcation in the flow-path
- increasing the thrust reverser's efficiency. Another unique
characteristic is the new thrust reverser's kinematics, in which the
entire O-Duct moves aftward to the reverse thrust position, thereby
eliminating the need for drag links in the secondary flow-path.
Added to these advantages is Nexcelle's application of an electrical
thrust reverser actuation system (ETRAS) - a major improvement that
employs electrically-operated actuators instead of the hydraulic system
actuators used in current-generation engines. Benefits of ETRAS include
enhanced reliability, reduced weight, and improved maintainability -
with these attributes validated in service on the A380.
The PANACHE demonstrator's elements have been returned for detailed
hardware inspection to Aircelle's Le Havre, France headquarters location
and to the Middle River Aircraft Systems production site in the U.S.
state of Maryland. Initial verification of PANACHE at the conclusion of
testing showed the hardware to be in excellent condition.
Nexcelle is developing Integrated Propulsion System nacelle
configurations for two programs: CFM International's LEAP-X1C engine on
the COMAC C919 jetliner; and GE's Passport, which will power the
Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 business jet aircraft.
About Nexcelle (www.nexcelle.com)
Nexcelle is creating smart nacelle systems for tomorrow's world travel.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, the company is a 50/50 joint
venture of Aircelle and Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS), which are
leading suppliers of engine nacelles, thrust reversers and
aerostructures. Through Nexcelle's relationship with CFM International,
GE Aviation and Safran, the company brings unparalleled expertise in the
design, development, production and support of integrated propulsion
systems for a wide range of aircraft.
Media Contacts:
Frédérique Thomas
Aircelle
Tel:
+33 (0)1 30 07 90 14
frederique.thomas@aircelle.com
or
Jennifer
Villarreal
GE Aviation
Tel: +1 616 241 8643
jennifer.villarreal3@ge.com
© Business Wire 2012
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