CSeries engine problem just an oil seal leak: Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney officials, as well as Bombardier, are downplaying the engine problem that grounded the new CSeries commercial jets, causing Bombardier to leave them out of its showing at the Farnborough International Airshow currently on in the UK. The cause of the engine failure during a recent ground test has been identified only as a “rear compartment, oil seal issue.” It had previously been reported that the problem was more serious, having to do with the low-pressure turbine, a key component of the engine. But P&W have characterized as “minor modifications” the changes they have put in place in the engine.

The engine, called the PurePower® PW1500G, which was certified by Transport Canada in February 2013, is a geared turbofan (GTF) type engine. This type of engine has been selected for several new narrow-body jet programs in development, including the Bombardier CSeries, Airbus A320neo, Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the Embraer E2 Jets. According to P&W, the PW1500G delivers a 20 per cent fuel burn advantage over other aircraft now flying. The company also claims reduced emissions and reduced noise as benefits of the new technology. Since September 2010 the engine has had 4,000 hours of testing, including 340 hours of flight testing.

Pratt-Whitney-PurePower-geared-turbofan-engine-compressors-fan-gearbox-Bombardier-CSeries-Farnborough-Airshow-EDIWeekly
PurePower® PW1500G engine from Pratt & Whitney. The company has invested billions of dollars in the technology and says it will begin service in 2015 on five major aircraft platforms, including the Bombardier CSeries.

The geared turbofan engine involves a high-speed, low-pressure turbine and high-pressure compressor. In describing the seal problem in the engine’s oil system, the president of P&W Commercial Engines, David Brantner said that the fan-drive gear system, the company’s proprietary technology, is “rock solid.”

The upstream intake fan is followed by a reduction gearbox that allows the low- and high-pressure turbines and compressors to run faster than the fan.

P & W issued a press statement about its geared turbofan engine program at Farnborough, saying that it has invested “billions of dollars” in the program  and plans to see its entry into service begin in 2015 and continue over the next four years on five “major aircraft platforms.”

Did you miss this?

Other Popular Stories

  • GPS III set to launch December 18: U.S. Air Force to launch via Space X Falcon 9 paylod; will be harder to jam, more secure and accurate
  • Continued strength in manufacturing in November: RBC
  • Fiat Chrysler denies wrongdoing as EPA accuses it of emissions cheating
  • Financial services fastest growing industry in Canada for exports: Conference Board of Canada
  • Breakthrough wearable Virtual Reality body suits and gloves allow you to feel objects in virtual Reality — Applications in industry, medicine, safety
  • Mixed results for Canada's auto parts industry: report
  • Toronto Hydro reports on sustainability, social responsibility
  • Canadian Solar to supply solar mega-projects in Ontario and Turkey
  • REE and American Axle & Manufacturing to co-develop new electric propulsion system for e-Mobility
  • NASA and Nissan to build autonomous vehicles together
  • Thunder Child, the unsinkable boat? Self-righting, wavepiercing interceptor engineered to be the perfect boat for offshore patrol
  • Canadian car sales break record amid concern about investment in the industry
  • BMW unveils i3, the electric car of the future
  • Scientists control superconductivity using spin currents
  • Government renews $81 million contract with MacDonald Dettwiler for space work
  • Air-Breathing battery development increases storage capacity with greater longevity at a fraction of the cost of other batteries.
  • Skilled labour shortage in world oil industry: report
  • Pharmaceuticals, medical supplies lead June exports to 8-year high
  • Bombardier workers unite with company management in support of "battle" against U.S. based aerospace giant Boeing Co.
  • Within 10 years, almost 50 percent of retail jobs may disappear to automation
Scroll to Top