The Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE*) technology demonstration program is making great strides, with more than 250 tests completed and new research partnerships formed as technologies mature toward large-scale open fan testing. The latest program updates were recently unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow.
“The work taking place today on test benches and with research partners around the world represents an unprecedented level of new technology development in CFM’s history,” said Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International. “As CFM celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are acting on our clear objective of making air transport more sustainable. With the RISE program, CFM will once again change the way people fly.”
CFM RISE program activity is shifting from component-level assessments to module-level testing.
For example, the agreement between CFM parent company Safran Aircraft Engines and French space research agency ONERA to conduct wind tunnel testing demonstrates the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of open fan designs. More than 200 hours of wind tunnel testing were conducted at the Onera Aerospace Lab using a 1:5 scale open fan model, including a version of the model mounted on a wing section of a demonstrator aircraft for testing with Airbus. A test campaign was also conducted for high-speed low-pressure turbines (LPT) with advanced turbine blades.
“We have made significant progress in our test plan, confirming the benefits of the Open Fan propulsion system for the next generation of narrow-body aircraft,” said Pierre Cottenceau, Executive Vice President of Engineering and Research & Technology at Safran Aircraft Engines. “We have successfully completed key tests on fan acoustics, aerodynamics and blade intake, as well as the high-speed low-pressure turbine, while advancing hybrid-electric tests for our range of breakthrough technologies.”
In addition, CFM parent company GE Aerospace recently won a contract with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to advance next-generation compressor, combustor and high-pressure turbine technologies through an engine compact core demonstration.
Following the first test run of next-generation HPT blades and nozzles on a demonstration engine, GE Aerospace has started a second endurance campaign for HPT wings, demonstrating the importance of durability in the RISE program. Testing of next-generation compressor and combustion technologies has also begun to improve material properties and understand how new engine designs impact CO2 emissions.2and non-CO2 -Emissions.
“To transform the future of flight and make it more sustainable, we must transform aircraft engines,” said Mohamed Ali, senior vice president of engineering at GE Aerospace. “Our engineers around the world are rising to the challenge and developing revolutionary technologies to deliver the efficiency gains needed. Open Fan architecture is the most promising engine technology that will help the industry reduce aviation emissions. It is designed to meet or exceed customer expectations for durability and deliver significant increases in fuel efficiency when using conventional or alternative jet fuels.”
GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines currently support over 2,000 engineers worldwide in the development of RISE program technologies and continue to hire new employees.
The RISE program, first unveiled in 2021, is one of the aviation industry’s most comprehensive technology demonstration programs. Under the RISE program, CFM is advancing a range of breakthrough technologies, including advanced engine architectures such as Open Fan, Compact Core and hybrid electric systems compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). To test the integration of the Open Fan architecture into the aircraft, plans with Airbus for an Open Fan flight technology demonstration were previously announced.
The objectives of the CFM RISE program include reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20 percent compared to the most efficient commercial aircraft engines in use today. SAF can reduce emissions by up to 80% over the entire life cycle of the fuel. Technologies are also being validated to meet the most stringent non-CO2 and noise emission requirements.
GE Aerospace is looking for talented, innovative engineers worldwide to advance aerospace for future generations. Explore the opportunities and apply for engineering positions online at invent.ge/engineering to help your ideas succeed.
* RISE is a registered trademark of CFM International, a 50:50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.
