The open rotor engine can deliver a step-change reduction in fuel consumption compared to conventional turbofan engines. An EU initiative focused on blade pitch control – a potential barrier that could prevent this innovative concept from being considered for next-generation airliners.
Under the Clean Sky initiative, Europe seeks to advance the maturity of the open rotor engine as a possible successor to the turbofan engine used in today’s civil airliners. Key to its safety and viability is precise control of the pitch on each of its multiple blades. The EU-funded ORPASV project sought to advance the state of the art in blade pitch control using electrohydraulic actuation.
Further details: Clean and green hydraulic component solutions open the door to tomorrow’s open rotor aircraft engines