127
Good Practice
Environment
Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
The geared turbofan is based on an en-
tirely new engine architecture: What sets
this innovative propulsion system apart
is that it features a reduction gearbox
between the fan – that is, the large
rotor at the engine inlet – and the low-
pressure turbine, which drives the fan.
With today’s engines, the two are seated
on a common shaft. Uncoupling the
two components allows the fan with its
large diameter to rotate more slowly and
the turbine to rotate much faster. This
lets the individual components achieve
their respective optimum speeds, greatly
boosting the geared turbofan’s efficiency.
The result is a significant reduction in
fuel consumption, emissions of CO
2
,
and
noise; moreover, the propulsion system
is much lighter than a conventional en-
gine, as it has fewer stages, and hence a
lower parts count.
Apart from the high-speed, low-pressure
turbine, MTU also contributes the for-
ward four stages of the high-pressure
compressor to the GTF. This new transon-
ic compressor is characterized by a mark-
edly increased efficiency, which gives it a
clear edge over most existing commercial
models. It comes as an all-blisk design –
blisks (blade-integrated disks) are high-
tech rotors in which the disk and blades
are produced as a single piece, eliminat-
ing the need for blade roots and disk
slots. This increases strength and lowers
weight. The GTF is a textbook example of
successful technology development fund-
ing: Two of its key components – the
high-speed, low-pressure turbine and the
high-pressure compressor–are based on
technologies developed under national
and European research programs. With
both components, MTU is setting new
standards worldwide.
The GTF concept is catching on: The
engine has meanwhile developed into
a bestseller. Some 3,500 orders have
been received to date. First applications
include the Bombardier CSeries and
Mitsubishi MRJ regional jets, the Air-
bus A320neo short- and medium-haul
aircraft, and the Irkut MS-21. Last but
not least, Embraer, too, has selected the
clean engine as the powerplant for its
second-generation E-Jets.
The geared turbofan offers even more
savings potential, and work on its opti-
mization has already commenced. Jointly
with Bauhaus Luftfahrt, MTU has defined
an ambitious program to further reduce
the CO
2
emissions of aircraft engines:
With its Clean Air Engine (Claire) tech-
nology initiative, the company aims to
reduce its CO
2
emissions by 30 percent
by the year 2035 in staged goals. The
GTF engine alone already provides a
reduction in CO
2
emissions of around
15
percent. The second stage is aimed
at reducing emissions by at least 20
percent by the year 2025. This can be
achieved by making thrust generation
evenmore efficient, for instance through
the further development of individual
components or through the use of a
shrouded, counter-rotating propfan. The
necessary technologies were developed
by MTU already back in the 1980s. The
company expects to achieve the 30 per-
cent target in 2035. In the third and last
stage, the efficiency of the core engine
will be further enhanced, for example
through the use of a heat exchanger.
MTU – An established global player
With more than 75 years in the aircraft engine business, MTU Aero Engines
and its predecessor companies have acquired unique expertise and experience
that makes it an established player and must-have partner in the engine com-
munity. The company is a technological leader in high-pressure compressors,
low-pressure turbines, manufacturing processes, and repair techniques.
MTU has a workforce of 8,500 employees worldwide and operates affiliates
in all important regions and markets. The site in the north of Munich is home
to its corporate headquarters and the MTU Group’s biggest location. In fiscal
2012,
the company posted consolidated sales of around €3.4 billion. MTU
Maintenance is the world’s largest independent provider of maintenance
services for commercial engines. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is
Germany’s leading industrial company for practically all engines flown by the
country’s military.
MTU is fully committed to operating in a green and sustainable manner. The
company makes it a point to ensure that its products as well as its manufac-
turing and maintenance processes meet the most stringent environmental
standards. MTU makes conscious use of resources, materials, and energy,
and it keeps noise and pollutant emissions in its production and maintenance
shops as low as possible. The German engine manufacturer takes its respon-
sibility for the environment very seriously: The protection of the environment
is one of MTU’s corporate objectives and a responsibility shared by everyone in
the organization.