Home Industry GE Started Testing World’s Largest Jet Engine with 3D Printed Fuel...

GE Started Testing World’s Largest Jet Engine with 3D Printed Fuel Nozzles

Last week General Electric started testing what is currently the world largest jet engine, the GE9X, at their Aviation’s Peebles Testing Operation in Ohio. With a front fan spanning 3.35 meters in diameter it generates 100,000 (45 metric tons) of thrust.

The GE9X also includes a total of 19 3D printed fuel nozzles, that contribute to making it one of the most fuel-efficient jet engines GE has ever produced. Applying additive manufacturing technology, engineers were able to reduce the weight of each fuel nozzle by around 25%, while ensuring its strength. The design determines how fuel moves through the nozzle and sprays inside the combustion chamber. Conventional produced nozzles consist of more than a dozen welded parts.

Bill Millhaem, general manager of the GE90/GE9X engine programs at GE Aviation, said: “The entire GE9X team—from engineering to sourcing to supply chain to development assembly—devoted countless hours to enable this achievement to occur. The ground testing will generate data on the full engine system and aerodynamic performance, mechanical verification, and aero thermal system validation.”

Image: GE Aviation
Image: GE Aviation

Designed for the Boeing 777X, the GE9X is scheduled to go into production in 2020. According to GE the company has already received over 700 orders worth $ 29 billion.


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