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Mechanism Description of the Rolls Royce Trent 900


Smit Patel
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University











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Introduction

Intended Audience
This mechanism description is for those who have a working knowledge about Rolls Royces
Trent 900 turbofan engine. The ideal audience would be mechanical and aerospace engineers /
technicians.
Formal Definition
The Trent 900 engine is a three shaft high bypass ratio, axial flow, turbofan with Low Pressure,
Intermediate Pressure and High Pressure Compressors driven by separate turbines through
coaxial Shafts.
General Description
The Trent 900 is the fourth member of the Trent family and includes the latest proven
technology. The Trent 900 is the engine of choice for the Airbus A380, with two thirds of
operators selecting the engine. It delivers the lowest lifetime fuel burn and has excellent
environmental attributes. The Trent 900 will continue to deliver customer benefits as it is part of
a living engine family. The Trent 900 fleet now comprises 228 engines on 57 aircraft in service
and has accumulated over 2.5 million hours by August 2013.
The Trent 900 engine is a three shaft high bypass ratio, axial flow, turbofan with Low
Pressure, Intermediate
Pressure and High
Pressure Compressors
driven by separate turbines
through coaxial shafts. The
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LP Compressor fan diameter is 2.95m with a swept fan blade and OGVs to increase efficiency
and reduce noise. The combustion system consists of a single annular combustor. The LP and IP
assemblies rotate independently in an anti-clockwise direction; the HP assembly rotates
clockwise, when viewed from the rear of the engine.
Process Analysis
Firstly, air that is pulled in by the fan through the core of the engine is compressed by the
intermediate and high pressure compressor blades. After fuel injection and ignition the
expanding gas exits the engine through various sets of turbine blades. These blades are turned
(like the sails on a windmill) and, in turn, they rotate the fan and compressor blades at the front
via shafts that pass through the center of the engine. As such, it is the turbine blades that turn the
fan, which pulls the air through to develop the thrust. In reality only about a quarter of the air
pulled through the fan enters the core of the engine, the remaining cold air is thrown backwards,
and around the outside of the core to develop the majority of the engines thrust (see gure 2).
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Overall Description
The overall length of the Trent 900 from tip of the spinner to the tail bearing housing plug mount
flange is 5477.5 (mm). The diameter around the center line is 3944 (mm). The engine weighs six
thousand two hundred forty six kilograms without any fluids.
The engine is made of four different types of materials, Aluminium, Titanium, Steel, and nickel
as you can see in the picture below.

In order for the engine to start the minimum oil temperature cannot be lower than
negative 30 degrees Celsius. If the temperature falls below that temperature the engine has to be
started with special procedure which is defined in the operating instructions. To operate the
engine the fuel temperature during flight could be no lower than minus fifty fours degrees
Celsius or the freezing point of that specific brand of fuel used. The fuel temperature could not
exceed fifty five degrees Celsius during climbing and fifth degrees when descending. The engine
is designed to withstand 34 kPA of absolute
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The Fan, compressor, combuster , turbine are considered to be the main parts of the
engine. However the most important part of any engine is the fan as its job is to draw the air into
the engine which starts the whole process thus providing the plan with thrust.












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Main Parts (A-level heading)

Fan system
Lightest fan system in the industry Proven swept fan design (116" diameter) - low noise, low
weight and high performance Proven light weight titanium fan case - robust and transportable
whole in Boeing 747F
Compressor
Intermediate and high pressure compressors
Proven Trent technology world-class performance
Lowest risk
Bladed discs throughout
lowest maintenance cost
Next generation 3D aerodynamics
More efficient airflow throughout engine
Better fuel consumption
Less parts and lower weight
Rolls-Royce unique 3-shaft design enables compressors to operate at optimum
speeds
Combustor
Proven Trent technology
Tiled combustor for lowest maintenance costs
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Engine tests have confirmed the Trent 900 as havingthe world's lowest emissions
Meets all proposed legislations with margin Assuredasset value
Turbines
Proven Trent technology
Low risk
Next generation 3D aerodynamics with end wall profiling
optimum performance and lowest fuel burn
Proven shrouded turbine blades
Best performance retention
High pressure contra rotation

Conta-rotation
Contra-rotation of the high pressure system significantly improves the performance and
efficiency of the intermediate pressure turbine
Improved efficiency
Fewer parts
Lighter parts

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