June 29, 2008

P&W Geared Turbofan Engine Could Help Industry Cut Emissions

Pratt & Whitney has developed a jet engine that burns less fuel, emits less CO2 and is cheaper to use then most other jet engines, Wired reports.

Pratt’s geared turbofan engine, which the company expects to have in regular service by 2013, burns 12 to 15 percent less fuel than other jet engines and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 1,500 tons per plane per year, Wired says.

Unlike current jet engines, the gearbox on the new engine lets the fan and turbine spin independently, creating a quieter, more powerful engine.

Alan Epstein, P&W VP of Technology and Environment, says the engine will cut CO2 emissions and reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions, noise and — ultimately — ownership costs.

In other P&W news, Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest operator of CFM56-7B engines, will use the EcoPower engine wash system to save more than $20 million at today’s prices in fuel costs annually and eliminate 135 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. United Airlines also recently contracted to use EcoPower.
Pratt & Whitney was among those at the third annual Aviation and Environment Summit in Geneva April 22 and 23, 2008, who pledged for the first time to cut their emissions.

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