Flight tests of the revised GEnx-1B engine for Boeing's 787 are demonstrating improvements to the fuel system and combustor, according to General Electric, and the changes will be recertificated for production engines. The new configuration centers on enhancements to the twin annular pre-swirl (TAPS) combustor, and is aimed at fixing center-body burning and dynamic stresses that were discovered during tests of the original design. Although the TAPS configuration was certificated along with the baseline engine in March, GE opted to take advantage of the 787 program delay to design, test and fly an improved combustor and fuel system-called the eTAPS. The trials are being conducted on GE's Victorville, Calif.-based 747 flying testbed, and include other durability and performance enhancements to the high-and low-pressure turbines. Changes to the cooling flow in the HP turbine have been made by adjusting the metering platform at the base of the blade, while improved three-dimensional aerodynamics have been introduced in the revised LP turbine.
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