Rolls-Royce’s new UltraFan engine prototype. It offers a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engines. Photo: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce’s new UltraFan engine prototype. It offers a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engines. Photo: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce’s new UltraFan engine prototype. It offers a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engines. Photo: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce’s new UltraFan engine prototype. It offers a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engines. Photo: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce prepares to test the world's largest turbofan


Deena Kamel
  • English
  • Arabic

Rolls-Royce is preparing to test a prototype of its UltraFan engine, the world's largest turbofan, which is designed to slash carbon emissions in the coming years amid the aviation industry's sustainability push.

The London-based company has completed building the demonstrator turbine on its UltraFan programme, transporting it to its purpose-built Testbed 80 in Derby where it has been mounted in preparation for testing early next year, Rolls-Royce said.

“Seeing the UltraFan demonstrator come together and getting ready for test in Testbed 80 is a great way to end the year … The next stage will be to see UltraFan run for the first time on 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel in 2023, proving the technology is ready to support more sustainable flight in the future,” Chris Cholerton, president of Rolls-Royce civil aerospace unit, said.

In addition to working to improve the efficiency of gas turbines, the UK-based engine maker is working on nascent hydrogen and hybrid electric technologies to power commuter and regional aircraft. European plane-maker Airbus is exploring a new aircraft model that would be powered by liquid hydrogen, making it completely carbon free.

Rolls-Royce's UltraFan demonstrator has a fan diameter of 140 inches and offers a 25 per cent fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engine, according to the company.

The UltraFan programme is designed to offer a variety of sustainability options to back the aviation industry's shift towards net-zero by 2050.

In the near term, there are options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan development programme to current Trent engines to deliver better fuel efficiency and reductions in emissions.

The new UltraFan engine prototype. Photo: Rolls-Royce
The new UltraFan engine prototype. Photo: Rolls-Royce

In the longer term, UltraFan’s scalable technology delivers the potential to further improve fuel efficiency of both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft by up to 10 per cent, according to Rolls-Royce.

Testbed 80 in Derby, which opened in 2020, was designed and built specifically to accommodate the size and technical complexity of the UltraFan demonstrator.

The UltraFan engine prototype's first test run will use 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel, a jet fuel replacement that is expected to play a key role in cutting net emissions in the coming few years, but is currently expensive and in short supply.

Stage result

1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34

2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe

3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers

4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco

5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo

6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ

7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team

8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma

9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux

10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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Simran

Director Hansal Mehta

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey

Three stars

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda

Rating: ****

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
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ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley), Henderson (Manchester United)

Defenders Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Chilwell (Chelsea), Coady (Wolves), Dier (Tottenham), Gomez (Liverpool), James (Chelsea), Keane (Everton), Maguire (Manchester United), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Mings (Aston Villa), Saka (Arsenal), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Foden (Manchester City), Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Winks (Tottenham)

Forwards: Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Manchester United), Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Sterling (Manchester City)

New schools in Dubai
The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008

Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900

Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

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How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn

Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
MATCH INFO

Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')

Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')

Al Jazira's foreign quartet for 2017/18

Romarinho, Brazil

Lassana Diarra, France

Sardor Rashidov, Uzbekistan

Mbark Boussoufa, Morocco

SPECS
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The five new places of worship

Church of South Indian Parish

St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch

St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch

St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais

Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais

 

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Updated: December 25, 2022, 8:17 AM`