Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322
The Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 is a turboshaft engine produced by Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited, a joint venture between Rolls-Royce plc and Turbomeca. The engine was designed to suit a wide range of military and commercial helicopter designs. The RTM322 can also be employed in maritime and industrial applications.
| RTM322 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| RTM322 cutout at Le Bourget 2009 | |
| Type | Turboshaft |
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited then Safran Helicopter Engines |
| First run | 15 December 1984[1] |
| Major applications | AgustaWestland Apache AgustaWestland AW101 NHI NH90 |
The Safran Aneto is a later development targeted for the super-medium and heavy helicopters, developed by Safran Helicopter Engines, unveiled at London's Helitech on 3 October 2017 and covering the 2,500 to 3,000 hp (1,900 to 2,200 kW) range.
Development
It was designed for the Hughes AH-64 Apache and Sikorsky Blackhawk, competing with the GE T700 and the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100. The partners shared equally the £100 million development costs, Rolls-Royce makes the turbines, the combustor, and the inlet particle separator while Turbomeca produces the axi-centrifugal compressor and intake. It first ran on 15 December 1984, with eight bench prototypes for 30,000 cycles and 13,000 test hours, and four for flight tests, initially aiming for a 1987 certification.[1]
The first order for the RTM322 was received in 1992 to power 44 Royal Navy Merlin HM1s which subsequently entered service in 1998.[2] Over 1,100 engines are in service, having logged over one million flight hours, powering 60% of the AW101 fleet and 80% of in-service NH90s.[3]
In 2013, Turbomeca acquired the entire program, becoming responsible for both production and product support.[3] Turbomeca's successor, Safran Helicopter Engines, developed it in the Aneto.
Safran Aneto
The first 2,500 shp -1K was selected to power the Leonardo AW189K twin to extend its capabilities, it flew in March 2017 and is scheduled to be introduced in the fourth quarter of 2018.[4] The more powerful 3,000+ shp “Dash 3” should appear in the early 2020s and will feature a new compressor and hot section.[5] The required documentation should be handled to the EASA in early 2019 for a second quarter certification.[6] By October 2018, the programme had accumulated 4,000h, including 105h of flight time, and a US manufacturer could use it, as Sikorsky considers re-engining its CT7-powered S-92.[7]
The 1,063 kW (1,426 hp) Aneto-1K was added on the RTM 322 type certificate on 12 December 2019.[8]
Design
As a RTM322 variant, the Aneto is a two spool turboshaft with a three stage axial compressor and a single stage centrifugal compressor turning at 36,300 RPM, a reverse flow annular combustor, a two stage gas generator axial turbine and a two stage axial power turbine with a forward transmission shaft turning at 21,000 RPM. Fitted with an inlet particle separator, its accessory gearbox is driven by the gas generator and the engine is control by a FADEC.[8]
Built upon the Safran Tech 3000 technological demonstrator, it aims to gradually offer up to 15% better fuel economy over current competitors to improve payload-range and offers 25% better power density than existing engines of same volume. Offered for new or for existing models, fewer scheduled maintenance tasks, longer maintenance intervals and health monitoring should improve maintainability.[4]
Suited for 8–15 tons helicopters, it is developed from the RTM322: the -1K has a similar architecture but no common parts. Parts made by additive manufacturing are used in the gyratory combustion chamber and the inlet guide vane system. Compatible with hybrid and distributed propulsion systems, in cruise flight one of the two engines could be shut down and restarted when needed. In the AW189, it is offered along the incumbent General Electric CT7, needing minor changes to the top-deck structure and engine cowls. Exempted from U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, it could power the AW189's military derivative, the AW149 or a future attack helicopter based on its dynamic systems.[5]
Developed from a French Aviation Authority study, the Safran Power Pack Eco Mode on the Airbus Helicopters Racer allows it to shut down one of engines in cruise, lowering fuel consumption by 15%, and quickly and automatically reactivate it with an electric starter to its maximum power for acceleration, landing or emergencies.[9] The Aneto specific fuel consumption should be 10% better than the competing CT7s.[6]
Applications
Aneto
- Leonardo AW189K: Aneto-1K, 2,500 shp; March 2017 first flight, fourth quarter of 2018 introduction.[4]
- Proposed for the Airbus Helicopters X6[10] (suspended)
- Airbus Helicopters Racer high-speed demonstrator: Aneto-1X, 2,500 shp.[9]
Specifications
| Variant[8] | RTM322-01/1 | RTM322-01/9 | Aneto-1K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Turboshaft | ||
| Compressor | Three axial stages + one centrifugal stage | ||
| Combustor | Reverse flow annular | ||
| Turbine | Two-stage high-pressure + two-stage power | ||
| Length | 1,171–1,181 mm (46.1–46.5 in) | ||
| Diameter | 615–708 mm (24.2–27.9 in) | ||
| Weight | 255 kg (562 lb) | 232 kg (511 lb) | 260 kg (570 lb) |
| Take-off power | 1,566 kW (2,100 hp) | 1,611 kW (2,160 hp) | 1,063 kW (1,426 hp)[lower-alpha 1] |
| Gas generator speed | 36,300 rpm | ||
| Power turbine speed | 20,900 rpm | 20,841 rpm | 21,000 rpm |
| Power:weight ratio | 6.1 kW/kg (3.7 hp/lb) | 6.9 kW/kg (4.2 hp/lb) | 4.1 kW/kg (2.5 hp/lb) |
- one engine inoperative: 1,572 kW, 2,108 hp
See also
Comparable engines
Related lists
References
- "First RTM 322 runs" (PDF). Flight International. 5 January 1985.
- "RTM322". Rolls-Royce plc. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
- "RTM322". Over 2,000 shp Propulsion solution. Safran Helicopter Engines.
- "Safran unveils Aneto – its new range of engines for the super-medium and heavy helicopter market" (Press release). Safran. 3 October 2017.
- Tony Osborne (3 October 2017). "AW189 First To Get New Safran Turboshaft". Aviation Week Network.
- Dominic Perry (17 October 2018). "Leonardo still waiting on launch customer for AW189K". Flightglobal.
- Dominic Perry (17 October 2018). "Safran powering ahead with helicopter engine programmes". Flightglobal.
- "Type-certificate data sheet No. E. 009 for RTM 322 / ANETO-1 series engines" (PDF). EASA. 12 December 2019.
- Mark Huber (27 February 2018). "Airbus Selects Safran's Aneto for Racer". AIN.
- Dominic Perry (3 October 2017). "Safran launches new Aneto engine on Leonardo AW189". Flightglobal.
