Rolls-Royce launches new Pearl engine family for business jets

propel Bombardier Global series aircraft.

The Pearl 15 engine, the first in the new series, will deliver up to 15,125lb of thrust (67.3kN), nine per cent more than its predecessor, but will be 2dB quieter and will deliver a seven per cent improvement in specific fuel consumption, with best-in class performance for NO_x emissions, Rolls-Royce claims.

The new engine is descended from two ancestors: the BR700, Rolls-Royce's current class leader for business aviation, and the Advance2 technology demonstrator programme. These are twin-spool engines; that is, the high-pressure compressor and high-pressure turbine blades are mounted on a shaft that is concentric to, and rotates independently of, the shaft holding the low-pressure compressor and turbine blades.

In Trent engines, which power civil airliners and are triple-spool (with an intermediate stage of compressor and turbine, also mounted on a concentric, independent shaft), the intermediate stage compressor takes the majority of the load of forcing air into the combustion chamber. In Advance2, the high-pressure compressor takes on a greater proportion of the load.