GE Aerospace will lead a new project, with collaboration from Boeing and NASA, to model the integration of an open fan engine design with an airplane. The project, also supported by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will support the industry's efforts to develop more energy efficient technology.
GE Aerospace engineers have previously used exascale computing - a type of supercomputing - to model the performance and noise levels of open fan engine components. Open fan architecture is a new design of jet engines that removes the traditional casing, allowing for a larger fan size with less drag to improve fuel efficiency.
Engineers will now be able to study the aerodynamics of an open fan mounted on an aircraft wing in simulated flight conditions. This allows the engine design to be optimized for additional efficiency, noise, and other performance benefits.
“Advanced supercomputing capability is a key breakthrough enabling the revolutionary open fan engine design," said GE Aerospace general manager for future of flight technology Arjan Hegeman. “Airplane integration is critical. Today’s announcement with Boeing, NASA, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to simulate the latest airplane and engine designs continues a longstanding legacy of world-leading innovation in the aviation industry.”
The team will have access to the Aurora supercomputer at Argonne National Laboratory and to the Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.