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Europrop TP400

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TP400
TP400 presented by Safran in 2017
Type Turboprop
Manufacturer Europrop International
First run 28 October 2005
Major applications Airbus A400M
Number built 400+[1]

The Europrop International TP400-D6 is an 11,000 shp (8,200 kW) powerplant, developed and produced by Europrop International for the Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft. The TP400 is the most powerful single-rotation turboprop; only the contra-rotating Kuznetsov NK-12 is larger.

Design and development

TP400 fitted to the fourth prototype A400M
The TP400 main propeller gearbox on display at the Paris Air Show 2013

The three-shaft configuration, a two-shaft gas generator followed by a free-power turbine, was chosen to maximize the overall pressure ratio.

In the gas generator, a five-stage intermediate pressure (IP) compressor is driven by a single-stage IP turbine and a contra-rotating six-stage high pressure (HP) compressor which is driven by a single-stage, air-cooled, HP turbine. The overall pressure ratio is about 25:1. The IP compressor has a pressure ratio of 3.5:1, and the HP compressor a pressure ratio of about 7.2:1.

A third coaxial shaft connects the low pressure power turbine to the 5.3 m diameter, eight-bladed, composite propeller, via an offset reduction gearbox. Maximum power output is 11,000 shp installed. (The gearbox output torque is up to 100 kNm).

(An earlier proposal, designated TP400-D1, based on the core size of the SNECMA M88-2 military turbofan was considered by Airbus to be too heavy and not sufficiently fuel efficient, so an all-new, smaller, core was chosen for the -D4).

The engine first ran on 28 October 2005 using a water brake as the load. During subsequent testing, the engine reached full power. On 28 February 2006 the engine was tested for the first time with the propeller installed.

Delays and problems

Certification was scheduled for October 2007, with the A400M first flight scheduled shortly afterwards. However, continued technical problems delayed the certification test program and pushed the entire A400M aircraft program into further delays. Two engine milestones were reached in June 2008: its first ground run on a flight testbed, and completing integration with the first production aircraft.[2]

The engine delays were primarily due to problems with completing the FADEC software to the satisfaction of the civil authorities. From June to December 2008 flight trials of a single TP400-D6 engine took place, mounted on the port wing of a C-130 flying test bed.[3] On 11 December 2009, the maiden flight of the A400M took place.[4]

Further problems arose in 2016 with the main gearbox that showed abnormal wear and heat requiring premature servicing.[5] This problem led to the German Air Force temporarily grounding two of its three A400M aircraft, and also resulted in a Royal Air Force aircraft suffering an inflight engine shutdown.[6] An interim fix for this engine issue was certified in July 2016.[7]

Specifications (TP400-D6)

Data from Rolls-Royce[8]

General characteristics

  • Type: turboprop
  • Length: 3.5 m (137.8 in)
  • Diameter: 0.92 m (36.2 in)
  • Dry weight: 1,890 kg (4,166.7 lb)

Components

  • Compressor: Five stage intermediate pressure unit, with no variable stators and a six stage high pressure unit with two rows of variables
  • Turbine: Single stage high pressure and intermediate pressure units, three stage power turbine

Performance

References

  1. ^ "EPI achieves the assembly of the 400th TP400 turboprop" (PDF). europrop-int.com. Europrop International. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  2. ^ Craig Hoyle (23 Jun 2008). "Europrop engine for Airbus Military A400M passes milestones". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2016. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 26 June 2008 suggested (help)
  3. ^ "A400M Engine Flying Test Bed". Marshall. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Airbus celebrates as A400M gets airborne" (Text, pictures & video). Flightglobal. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  5. ^ Matthias Gebauer (2016-05-12). "Triebwerksprobleme beim A400M: Bundeswehr plant für den Ernstfall". spiegel.de (in German). Spiegel Online. Retrieved 2016-06-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
  6. ^ Gareth Jennings (12 July 2016). "Engine problems ground German A400Ms". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Shalal, Andrea (9 July 2016). "Interim fix for A400M engine issue certified: Airbus". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  8. ^ Rolls-Royce TP400-D6 datasheet Retrieved: 15 September 2015
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