Torquemeters is to play a key role at a ground-breaking national testing facility which will help develop the next generation of aerospace engines.
The torque measuring equipment manufacturer has been chosen by the University of Nottingham to produce a three-shaft test rig for its new £5.6m Gas Turbine and Transmissions Research Centre (G2TRC).
The rig will enable researchers to explore a wide range of testing scenarios that are currently not readily available in the UK. Rolls-Royce is set to be the facility’s first major customer when it opens in April 2018.
Thanks to its innovative design and trio of independent drive shafts, the rig will be able to test a variety of aero engine and advanced power transmissions units, both vertically and horizontally, up to 60,000 rpm and torque values of up to 165Nm. It will also be equipped with Torquemeters’ TorDac data acquisition and test automation software.
“In general, many experimental investigations and validations of relevant behaviour have often been left to full engine or test runs. As well as not being conducive to exploring design variations or broader fundamental questions, these are also very costly and come too late in the design process,” explained Dr Paloma Paleo, Nottingham University’s rigs procurement manager.
“Taking into account the reduced duration of current and future engine and aircraft development programmes, it’s now more important than ever before that businesses can experiment extensively during the design phase,” she added.
Torquemeters was selected not only because of its capabilities to deliver a working facility on time, but also its previous experience of building several large rotating machinery test rigs, said Dr Paleo.
The rig is also expected to be used for studying transmissions, engine cores and compressors for other manufacturers involved in the automotive, energy, marine and rail industries.
“We’re delighted to be part of a project that will deliver a world-class testing facility which aims to secure Britain’s leading role in the global aerospace market,” commented Nick Edge, sales and marketing director at Torquemeters.
Photo caption (l to r): Dr Paloma Paleo, rigs procurement manager, Nick Edge, Torquemeters’ sales and marketing director and Professor Hervé Morvan, head of Group for the Gas Turbine and and Transmissions Research Centre.
