The General Electric Affinity was a turbofan developed by GE Aviation for supersonic transports. Launched in May 2017 to power the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jet, its initial design was completed in 2018 before its detailed design in 2020 for the first prototype production. GE Aviation discontinued development of the engine in May 2021. Its high-pressure core is derived from the CFM56, matched to a new twin fan low-pressure section for a reduced bypass ratio better suited to supersonic flight.
At the May 2017 EBACE, Aerion announced its selection of GE Aviation to power the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jet.[1] GE then launched the Affinity program.[2] The final engine configuration is a core with billions of operational hours – suggesting the CFM56 – and a new low-pressure section optimised for supersonic speed.[3] The Affinity high-pressure core is adapted from the CFM56 and the GE F101/F110 military engines.[4]
In February 2018, Aerion released the GE engine configuration. Thrust will be reduced at takeoff to meet Chapter 5 noise regulations, requiring a longer balanced field takeoff as an acceptable compromise. Chapter 5 applies from 2018 to over 120,000 lb (54,400 kg) aircraft and all aircraft from 2021.[5] The initial design of its Affinity medium-bypass-ratio turbofan was completed by October 2018. Its detailed design review was to be completed by 2020 for the first prototype production.[2]
Following the collapse of Aerion on 21 May 2021, GE Aviation discontinued development of the Affinity engine, leaving no likely supersonic powerplant provider for the Boom Overture,[6] after Rolls-Royce also announced the end of their involvement in the project.[7]
Design
GE Aviation needs to develop a configuration accommodating reasonably well requirements for supersonic speed, subsonic speed and noise levels.[8] Managing the high intake temperatures at high altitudes is a key challenge for the initial design.[3] An engine for supersonic flight needs a lower bypass ratio than modern turbofans, having a higher flow speed for better efficiency. This is limited by noise regulations at takeoff, and a lower compression core like the CFM56 is better suited to higher temperatures encountered supersonically.[9] The engine is a compromise between a big core for power and a small fan for wave drag, and Mach 1.4 is a compromise between higher speed and enough range.[10]
The high-pressure core is derived from the nine-stage compressor and single-stage turbine of the CFM56, matched to a new low-pressure section optimised for supersonic speed with a 133 cm (52in) diameter fan instead of the 155-173 cm (61-68.3in) fan of the 6:1 bypass ratio CFM56.[5] The twin-shaft, twin-fan engine with FADEC has a service ceiling of 18,300 m (60,000 ft). It lacks an afterburner, and has a combustor with advanced coatings and uses additive manufacturing technologies.[2]
The 18,000 lbf (80 kN) GE Affinity has a nine-stage HP compressor, a single-stage HP turbine and a two-stage low-pressure turbine. Preceded by fixed inlet guide vanes with movable flaps, the twin blisk fans have wide-chord titanium blades. The exhaust mixer is similar to the GE Passport ceramic matrix composite design.[11] The Mach 1.4-to-1.6 speed requires no variable-geometry inlet and the variable-area nozzle has a cone moving longitudinally, replacing a convergent-divergent nozzle.[12] The bypass ratio is around 3 to lower the ram drag, and it should produce 3,500 lbf (16 kN) at Mach 1.4 and FL500, with a cruise fuel consumption increased by 50% over the Mach 0.78 CFM56-5.[13]
Specifications
General characteristics
Type: Twin-shaft, medium bypass, non-afterburning turbofan
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The General Electric Affinity was a turbofan developed by GE Aviation for supersonic transports Launched in May 2017 to power the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jet its initial design was completed in 2018 before its detailed design in 2020 for the first prototype production GE Aviation discontinued development of the engine in May 2021 Its high pressure core is derived from the CFM56 matched to a new twin fan low pressure section for a reduced bypass ratio better suited to supersonic flight AffinityType TurbofanNational origin United StatesManufacturer GE AviationMajor applications Aerion AS2Number built CancelledDeveloped from CFM International CFM56 Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Specifications 3 1 General characteristics 3 2 Components 3 3 Performance 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment EditAt the May 2017 EBACE Aerion announced its selection of GE Aviation to power the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jet 1 GE then launched the Affinity program 2 The final engine configuration is a core with billions of operational hours suggesting the CFM56 and a new low pressure section optimised for supersonic speed 3 The Affinity high pressure core is adapted from the CFM56 and the GE F101 F110 military engines 4 In February 2018 Aerion released the GE engine configuration Thrust will be reduced at takeoff to meet Chapter 5 noise regulations requiring a longer balanced field takeoff as an acceptable compromise Chapter 5 applies from 2018 to over 120 000 lb 54 400 kg aircraft and all aircraft from 2021 5 The initial design of its Affinity medium bypass ratio turbofan was completed by October 2018 Its detailed design review was to be completed by 2020 for the first prototype production 2 Following the collapse of Aerion on 21 May 2021 GE Aviation discontinued development of the Affinity engine leaving no likely supersonic powerplant provider for the Boom Overture 6 after Rolls Royce also announced the end of their involvement in the project 7 Design EditGE Aviation needs to develop a configuration accommodating reasonably well requirements for supersonic speed subsonic speed and noise levels 8 Managing the high intake temperatures at high altitudes is a key challenge for the initial design 3 An engine for supersonic flight needs a lower bypass ratio than modern turbofans having a higher flow speed for better efficiency This is limited by noise regulations at takeoff and a lower compression core like the CFM56 is better suited to higher temperatures encountered supersonically 9 The engine is a compromise between a big core for power and a small fan for wave drag and Mach 1 4 is a compromise between higher speed and enough range 10 The high pressure core is derived from the nine stage compressor and single stage turbine of the CFM56 matched to a new low pressure section optimised for supersonic speed with a 133 cm 52in diameter fan instead of the 155 173 cm 61 68 3in fan of the 6 1 bypass ratio CFM56 5 The twin shaft twin fan engine with FADEC has a service ceiling of 18 300 m 60 000 ft It lacks an afterburner and has a combustor with advanced coatings and uses additive manufacturing technologies 2 The 18 000 lbf 80 kN GE Affinity has a nine stage HP compressor a single stage HP turbine and a two stage low pressure turbine Preceded by fixed inlet guide vanes with movable flaps the twin blisk fans have wide chord titanium blades The exhaust mixer is similar to the GE Passport ceramic matrix composite design 11 The Mach 1 4 to 1 6 speed requires no variable geometry inlet and the variable area nozzle has a cone moving longitudinally replacing a convergent divergent nozzle 12 The bypass ratio is around 3 to lower the ram drag and it should produce 3 500 lbf 16 kN at Mach 1 4 and FL500 with a cruise fuel consumption increased by 50 over the Mach 0 78 CFM56 5 13 Specifications EditGeneral characteristics Type Twin shaft medium bypass non afterburning turbofan Length Diameter 1 33m 52in fan 5 Dry weight Components Compressor 2 Fans 9 HP stages 11 Turbine 1 HP 2 LP stages 11 Performance Maximum thrust 16 000 20 000 lbf 71 89 kN 14 3 500 lbf 16 kN in cruise 13 Bypass ratio 3 1 13 Power to weight ratio See also EditRelated development CFM International CFM56 General Electric F101Comparable engines Boom Symphony General Electric CF34 Rolls Royce BR700 Pratt amp Whitney JT8DRelated lists List of aircraft enginesReferences Edit Fred George May 22 2017 Supersonic Aerion Selects GE Engine ShowNews Aviation Week Network a b c Mark Phelps October 15 2018 Aerion Unveils Stage 5 GE Affinity Engine for Supersonic AS2 AIN online a b Stephen Trimble 15 Dec 2017 Lockheed and Aerion to develop supersonic business jet Flightglobal GE Affinity Turbofans To Power AS2 Aviation Week November 16 2020 a b c Kate Sarsfield 22 Feb 2018 Aerion releases configuration of supersonic jet engine Flightglobal Murdo Morrison 24 May 2021 GE stops work on Affinity supersonic engine Flightglobal Hemmerdinger Jon 2022 09 08 Rolls Royce exits Boom s supersonic airliner project Flightglobal Retrieved 2022 11 09 Stephen Trimble 10 Oct 2017 GE nears milestones on 1 5B bet on business aircraft Flightglobal Bjorn Fehrm December 20 2017 The Supersonic dilemma Leeham Guy Norris Jul 3 2018 Aerion Closes In On Supersonic AS2 Program Launch Aviation Week Network a b c Guy Norris Oct 15 2018 GE Shows Affinity for Supersonics Aviation Week Network Guy Norris Oct 16 2018 Why GE s Affinity Is a Supersonic Enabler Aviation Week Network a b c Bjorn s Corner Supersonic transport revival Part 12 Leeham News October 26 2018 B amp GA GE Aviation External links EditGE Affinity web page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title General Electric Affinity amp oldid 1128001147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
