The TRENT series of Rolls-Royce civil aeroengines employs a three-shaft
system to transmit power from the three turbines to the fan and two
compressors. There are three bearing chambers, each with a support
structure connecting it to the engine casing. There is also a system of
gearboxes incorporating gears that operate with high peripheral speeds
that connects the mainline shafts to the auxiliaries on the outside of
the engine. These are all critical components involved in meeting the
industry’s need for major reductions in damaging emissions, noise and
drag. This will require shafts to have smaller diameters, transmit
higher torque and run at higher speeds and higher temperatures. The
TRENT series of Rolls-Royce civil aeroengines employs a three-shaft
system to transmit power from the three turbines to the fan and two
compressors. There are three bearing chambers, each with a support
structure connecting it to the engine casing. There is also a system of
gearboxes incorporating gears that operate with high peripheral speeds
that connects the mainline shafts to the auxiliaries on the outside of
the engine. These are all critical components involved in meeting the
industry’s need for major reductions in damaging emissions, noise and
drag. This will require shafts to have smaller diameters, transmit
higher torque and run at higher speeds and higher temperatures.
The Group’s aim is to provide the technology to enable these improvements to take place.
We are doing internationally-leading work on new advanced materials,
novel designs for shafts, couplings, support structures and casings, the
use of high duty bearings, the dynamic behaviour of high performance
gearboxes for driving auxiliaries, the performance of the oil system
that lubricates and cools the bearings and gears and the design of seals
to prevent oil leaking from the transmission system.