SAGE 4 Clean Sky engine demonstrator provides proof of technological readiness

After 107 running hours, 500 test cycles and 30 starts on MTU Aero Engines’ development test stand, it was clear, that the SAGE 4 Clean Sky engine demonstrator has provided proof of the technological readiness of the project. MTU’s experts are extremely pleased with the result: “We’ve tested numerous new technologies, and many of them have been shown to be mature. Some of the hard-ware has reached the point of being ready to fly,” summarizes Dr. Jörg Henne, Senior Vice President Engineering and Technology at MTU. The sophisticated test program was developed and conducted at MTU. SAGE 4, which is short for Sustainable And Green Engines, is the name of one of five Clean Sky engine demonstrators. With more than 600 research partners involved, Clean Sky is the largest ever EU-funded aeronautics research program. “SAGE 4 is based on the PW1500G geared turbofan engine approved by Pratt & Whitney, which we equipped with cutting-edge compressor and turbine technology,” explains Dr. Stefan Weber, Senior Vice President Technology and Engineering Advanced Programs at MTU in Munich. “We’ve developed these innovations in a joint effort with European partners.” The SAGE 4 demonstrator was built up last year. A so called supermodule – made up of the low-pressure turbine made by MTU, the turbine exit case made by British-Swedish GKN Aerospace, and the shaft and bearing chamber made by Pratt & Whitney – was assembled and integrated into a PurePower PW1500G geared turbofan engine. Towards the end of last year, the engine demonstrator was mounted on the test bed in Munich, where it was put through its paces for several weeks. At the end of the test runs, the SAGE 4 demonstrator was disassembled, and each module and component was carefully evaluated. The results were more than impressive.