The Nexcelle engine nacelle co-developed by Safran and GE Aviation undergoes U.S. ground testing

September 19, 2016

An advanced jet engine nacelle system developed by the French/American Nexcelle joint venture of Safran Nacelles and GE Aviation's Middle River Aircraft Systems has been put through its paces during extensive ground testing in the U.S.

At the Peebles, Ohio facility of GE Aviation, this nacelle – including its innovative O-Duct thrust reverser conceived by Safran Nacelles – was cycled a total of 1,855 times in conditions representing a full range of operational scenarios, from normal deployments to extreme situations such as simulated rejected takeoffs and aborted landings.

These ground tests were part of engine certification and maintenance validations for the CFM International LEAP-1C Integrated Propulsion System (IPS), which includes the Nexcelle nacelle system and is being developed to power COMAC’s twin-engine C919 jetliner.

The unique one-piece composite O-Duct on Nexcelle's LEAP-1C nacelle replaces a traditional thrust reverser's two-piece D-Duct. With its kinematics, the entire O-Duct moves aftward to the reverse thrust position; and the unit is driven by an electrical thrust reverser actuation system (E-TRAS).

Benefits of the Integrated Propulsion System

These features are key elements of Nexcelle's contribution to the LEAP-1C's Integrated Propulsion System design, providing benefits that include lower weight, increased efficiency and reliability, along with improved maintainability.

With the ground testing at Peebles completed, the nacelle has been disassembled and its components sent to the Nexcelle joint venture partner companies in the U.S. and France for detailed inspection. 

"We have examined everything down to the smallest component, including hardware that was checked out at our build-to-spec. suppliers," explained Olivier Rougelot, the C919 nacelle program manager at Safran Nacelles. "This is to confirm that the nacelle components performed as planned, and are ready for operational service."

The O-Duct concept was pioneered by Safran Nacelles, and evolved from the company's PANACHE concept for a highly-efficient, advanced nacelle and pylon configuration.