In collaboration with Boeing, NASA, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, GE Aerospace is developing a design model for an Open Fan engine to be installed on an aircraft wing. Through simulation, engineers aim to study the aerodynamics of the Open Fan engine under various flight conditions. This innovative design is expected to enhance performance, reduce noise levels, and increase efficiency. The Department of Energy has allocated the project 840,000 supercomputing hours through its INCITE program, which supports projects that require extensive computational resources. The partners will utilize the Aurora supercomputer at Argonne National Laboratory and the Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, both capable of processing data at more than a quintillion calculations per second. Open Fan designs eliminate the traditional jet engine casing, allowing larger fans to achieve lower drag and improved fuel economy.
Previously, GE Aerospace employed exascale computing to predict the noise levels and performance of Open Fan engine components. With enhanced processing power, it will be possible to create a full-scale model of a combined engine and aircraft during the design phase. “The Open Fan engine design is made possible by significant advancements in supercomputing capabilities,” stated Arjan Hegeman, General Manager for Future of Flight Technology at GE Aerospace. “Integrating airplanes is essential. The aviation industry has a long-standing heritage, and our current partnership with Boeing, NASA, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to replicate the latest engine and aircraft designs continues that tradition.” Launched in 2021, CFM International’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program has been working on the Open Fan engine. This initiative has conducted over 250 tests and showcases advancements in aviation technology.
The RISE program is focused on developing advanced engine architectures, small cores, and hybrid electric systems compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuel or unblended fuel. Additionally, it aims for a 20% increase in fuel efficiency and a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to contemporary commercial engines. In 2024, over 900 engineers were hired to support this effort. Hegeman emphasized, “We want to achieve something our company has never done before: launch a new jet engine that is 20% more fuel-efficient than our most advanced commercial engines today.” This represents a significant technological leap, typically requiring several generations to realize, and it has been made possible in part due to advancements in supercomputing.
