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Volcanic Ash and Aircraft Engines
BATA Volcanic Ash Workshop – 15 October 2013
Rory Clarkson
Engine Environmental Protection
Rolls-Royce
Introduction
• The exam question:
• What was known in 2010:
- Damage mechanisms
- Quantitative understanding
• Rolls-Royce activities 2010-2013
• Current position
2
Progress across the industry since 2010 – has it been enough?
What We Know – Engine Damage Mechanisms 3
Limited
centrifuging
by fan
Ash
cloud
• Rapid impact effects Molten ash sticks in
turbine annulus,
choking engine
Compressor erosion –
loss of efficiency and
surge margin
Ash starts to melt in and
around combustor
(clogging in combustor
and flame extinction) Electrical and
electronic system
contamination
Fuel system
blockage
Limited
centrifuging
by fan
Ash
cloud
What We Know – Engine Damage Mechanisms 4
Lubrication system
contamination Sulphidation of Ni
alloys in turbine
Turbine cooling systems
block, reducing
component life
Compressor erosion –
gradual loss of
efficiency
• Longer term ‘cost of ownership’ damage
Engine Susceptibility
• 2010 quantitative understanding – RR engine ‘Safe-to-Fly’
chart
5
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013 6
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
E15 and all that
Many informal discussions with Met Office/Bristol Univ/BGS/NILU
Grimsvotn, PCC, Nabro & all that
Part 1 Part 2
TTCP Fairbanks
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
A-NPA 2011-6
NPA 2011-17
A-NPA 2012-21
CS-25 Am’nt 13
IAGOS
IUGG ESA/
EUMETSAT IMechE IWVA
UK VAAG
CAA/Met Off/RR mtgs
DfT VAORG
IVATF/IAVWOPSG
Sundry mtgs
External Engagement
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013
• MoD support 2012 – Global VA Risk Assessment
7
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013
• MoD support 2012 – Operability Model Uncertainty
8
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013
• MoD support 2012 – Proposed Research Programme
9
- Partial reduction in modelling uncertainty - £1.5M - £2M - Substantial reduction in modelling uncertainty - >£15M
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013 10
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
E15 and all that
Many informal discussions with Met Office/Bristol Univ/BGS/NILU
Grimsvotn, PCC, Nabro & all that
Part 1 Part 2
TTCP Fairbanks
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
A-NPA 2011-6
NPA 2011-17
A-NPA 2012-21
CS-25 Am’nt 13
IAGOS
IUGG ESA/
EUMETSAT IMechE IWVA
UK VAAG
CAA/Met Off/RR mtgs
DfT VAORG
IVATF/IAVWOPSG
Sundry mtgs
External Engagement
BA009/KLM867 reassessment
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013
• Engine ‘Safe-to-Fly’ Chart
11
- 2012 Revision
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013 12
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
E15 and all that
Many informal discussions with Met Office/Bristol Univ/BGS/NILU
Grimsvotn, PCC, Nabro & all that
Part 1 Part 2
TTCP Fairbanks
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
A-NPA 2011-6
NPA 2011-17
A-NPA 2012-21
CS-25 Am’nt 13
IAGOS
IUGG ESA/
EUMETSAT IMechE IWVA
UK VAAG
CAA/Met Off/RR mtgs
DfT VAORG
IVATF/IAVWOPSG
Sundry mtgs
External Engagement
BA009/KLM867 reassessment
VIPR-III
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013
• Vehicle Integrated Propulsion Research – VIPR
- NASA/USAF Engine Health Monitoring (EHM) technology
development
- Volcanic ash (VIPR-III) is a good way to deteriorate an engine
13
VIPR-III Participants
P&W F117
GE Ash Delivery System
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013
• FAA – Exposure to low concentration visible ash; safety or
economic damage concern?
• What type of ash to use; fresh ash or 7,000 year old ash?
• What ash concentrations to run test to?
14
VIPR-III Key Questions:
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013
• VIPR-III Test points?
15
2 20 0.2 200 2000
1 100 10 1 000 0.1 0.01 0.001 10 000 0.0001
Visible ash
threshold
10 000
1 000
100
10
1
0.1
0.01
hrs
seconds
minutes
hours
infinite/ years
weeks
days
months
Economic
Damage?
Unsafe
Operation? Unsafe
Operation
Normal field
operation in
dusty/sandy
environments
2010 DLR
flights
2010 Dornier
+ BA flights
BA9
KLM867
VIPR-III ?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Ash concentration (mg/m3)
Du
rati
on
of
En
gin
e E
xp
os
ure
Discernible ash
threshold (approx)
Predicted conc. used to get
flights going in 2010
MoD Requested & Funded
Duration of Exposure v Ash Concentration
Chart – A Cartoon
Rolls-Royce Activities 2010-2013 16
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
E15 and all that
Many informal discussions with Met Office/Bristol Univ/BGS/NILU
Grimsvotn, PCC, Nabro & all that
Part 1 Part 2
TTCP Fairbanks
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
A-NPA 2011-6
NPA 2011-17
A-NPA 2012-21
CS-25 Am’nt 13
IAGOS
IUGG ESA/
EUMETSAT IMechE IWVA
UK VAAG
CAA/Met Off/RR mtgs
DfT VAORG
IVATF/IAVWOPSG
Sundry mtgs
External Engagement
BA009/KLM867 reassessment
VIPR-III
GE delivery system test
Engine test & strip
Current Position & Conclusions
• Since 2010 work has continued on improving the engine
manufacturers’ understanding of the volcanic ash problem:
- Better understanding of what we know and don’t know
- Better understanding of what it would take to improve our
knowledge – should it be required
• There are various international initiatives running to address
some of the gaps in our knowledge
- Modelling and measurement of ash clouds – e.g. VADAS,
ESA/EUMETSAT, …
- Engine effects – e.g. VIPR-III
• EASA regulations have evolved slightly
• We are in a better place than we were in April 2010
17
and finally…