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Power of partnership

Business

It has been 25 years since the beginning of the international partnership of TsAGI (Central aero hydrodynamic institute named after N.E.Zhukovsky) and Safran Aircraft Engines. The basis for the partnership between the two companies was laid at the end of the 1990s built on mutual interests in various fields including research of prospective supersonic commercial jets of the second generation (SCJ-2). By that time the strict requirements to the powerplant and its configuration on SCJ-2 for the noise and acoustic impact abatement had been specified.  The means to improve the acoustic performance challenged operational economy, engine gas-dynamic stability and safety of flight. Only international partnership could benefit to risk, time and powerplant development cost decrease.

It was the time when ejector jet nozzles with noise suppression were designed and tested in TsAGI wind-channels. They improved the noise level abatement on the ground to 10–12 EPNdB without considerable loss of the engine thrust compared with Tupolev-144. TsAGI specialists V.K.Zhitenev, A.V.Shenkin, V.M.Kuznetsov worked together with their TsIAM colleagues. Novelty and significance of the work results gave impetus to further developments of the nozzles and new configurations of the powerplants on the primary structure, in particular, within the framework of the International Scientific Research Centre projects and HISAC of the 6th EC programme with participation of Safran Aircraft Engines.

Participation of TsAGI in the project of turbofan engine PowerJet SaM146 (Safran) for aircraft SSJ-100 (Sukhoi Civil Aircraft) in 2004-2008 was essential for the Institute, as they performed all scope of tests of the inlet, nacelle and engine jet nozzles, including isolated tests and with the powerplant installed on the aircraft, providing test results and recommendations required for certification of SaM146 in Russia and abroad.

DREAM project of the 7th EC Programme (2008-2012) has become one of the major projects with TsAGI participation. Research and development of prospective propfan engine with an open birotating runner presented a totally new subject, being more efficient but noisier than a traditional turbojet bypass engine, it required implementation of modern telemetric systems, mastering optical techniques of nonintrusive measurement of deformations and pressure on the birotating propfan blades. The Institute has obtained a modern technological base that is used for joint projects with Safran as well.

Results of the joint research with Safran were presented to the ambassador of France in Russia Mr. Jean-Maurise Ripert during his visit to TsAGI. Along with the test base objects designed for international projects, great attention was paid to research activities with the French partners, in particular, the models of the powerlants, manufactured and tested in the Institute by Safran’s order were demonstrated to the embassy team. Representatives of the French embassy appreciated the high level of the model production and precision of the test results. 

Safran is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace, Defence and Security (ongoing divestiture of Security business). Operating worldwide, the Group has 66,500 employees (Security included) and generated sales of 15.8 billion euros in 2016 (excluding Security). Working independently or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. The Group invests heavily in Research & Development to meet the requirements of changing markets, including expenditures of 1.7 billion euros in 2016 (excluding Security expenditures). Safran is listed on Euronext Paris and is part of the CAC40 index, as well as the Euro Stoxx 50 European index.

For more information : www.safran-group.com / Follow @Safran on Twitter. 

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