Pratt & Whitney PW1000G
Geared turbofan engine produced beginning 2007 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Pratt & Whitney PW1000G family, also known as the GTF (geared turbofan), is high-bypass geared turbofan produced by Pratt & Whitney. Following years of development and testing on various demonstrators, the program officially launched in 2008 with the PW1200G destined for the Mitsubishi SpaceJet (a project that was later canceled). The first successful flight test occurred later that year. The PW1500G variant, designed for the Airbus A220, became the first certified engine in 2013. The program cost is estimated at $10 billion.
PW1000G | |
---|---|
Type | Geared turbofan |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Pratt & Whitney |
First run | November 2007 |
Major applications | |
Unlike traditional turbofan engines where a single shaft connects all components, forcing them to operate at the same speed, the PW1000G has a gearbox between the fan and the low-pressure core. This allows each section to operate at its optimal speed: the large front fan spins slower for maximum air intake efficiency, while the core with its compressor and turbine operates at a much faster speed for improved thrust generation. This design translates to significant performance gains. Pratt & Whitney claims the PW1000G delivers a 16% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to previous generation engines, while also achieving a 75% reduction in noise.
The PW1100G variant, powering the Airbus A320neo family, entered service in 2016 and encountered some problems during its early introduction. These issues, including grounded aircraft and in-flight failures, necessitated corrective measures from Pratt & Whitney. The various models in the PW1000G family can generate 15,000 to 33,000 pounds-force (67 to 147 kilonewtons) of thrust. The engine is used on the A220, A320neo family, Embraer E-Jet E2 and the Russian Yakovlev MC-21 (although exports were stopped as part of the international sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine).
The Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engine family initially garnered significant interest from airlines due to its touted fuel efficiency advantages. However, subsequent technical challenges have impacted its standing in the market. Notably, the discovery of contamination of the powdered metal used for engine components necessitated extensive repairs, with individual engine fixes estimated to take 250-300 days. This extended downtime for a significant portion of the PW1000G-powered fleet ultimately led some airlines to reassess their engine selection strategies, with some opting for the competing CFM LEAP engine.