Chapter 636: Far Ahead (Second update, please subscribe)
Aviation engines, known as "the crown jewel of modern industry" in later generations, are important weapons of the country and the cutting-edge of the equipment manufacturing industry.
Perhaps it was because of his understanding of the restrictions that later generations of "aviation engines" had on Tangshan's aviation industry that Li Yian attached great importance to the development of the engine industry, from dismantling BMW's production equipment and drawing patents to utilizing German engineers and technicians. Rebuilding the BMW engine manufacturing plant in Nanyang.
From introducing Rolls-Royce's patents to producing Nien engines, to cooperating with Rolls-Royce to develop turbofan engines.
It is through cooperation with many British companies, including Rolls-Royce, that Nanyang's aviation engine technology has achieved rapid development.
"There are still many treasures in British homes!"
On the way to BMW Yongning Branch, Li Yi'an muttered in his heart.
Although World War II completely emptied the fortune of the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets, the United Kingdom, which could barely join the United States and the Soviet Union as one of the "Big Three" at the Yalta Conference, has been reduced to a "Big Three" in just a few years after World War II. A shivering little donkey between a bison and a polar bear."
However, like all other declining empires, Britain still retains a lot of imperial legacies at this time, and these legacies have become the biggest burden for this unworthy man. The aviation industry is Typical representative.
The UK now has more than a dozen aviation industry companies, and almost every one of them is famous. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the declining UK cannot afford to support so many military-industrial companies. The British Army It was impossible to come up with so many orders to satisfy these companies, so these companies began to fall into crazy involution in order to obtain orders to survive.
Despite this involution, a distinctive feature emerged in the British aviation industry after the war, which was the repetitive construction of models. The famous "3V" bomber is an example. There are as many as nine models of subsonic jet fighters in fighter jets. Repeated construction is not only reflected in the field of aircraft, but also in the field of aero-engines.
The result of such internal friction is that most British aviation industry companies cannot obtain orders and can only decline. At the same time, due to the huge waste of resources, the development of the British aviation industry is slower than that of the United States and Russia.
“Actually, we can take advantage of the decline of the British aviation industry to make another fortune!”
What kind of wool is this wool?
Of course it is technology and technical personnel. Introduce British technology and technical personnel to strengthen Nanyang's aviation industry strength.
While Li Yian was thinking about how to extract wool from the British Empire, the car had already driven into the Yongning branch. Unlike Changan Company, this factory specializes in the production of aerospace engines, including Nien engines. The source is the UK.
In this era, although the British aviation industry has been severely involution, it has produced a number of aero engines with extremely excellent performance. For example, the Conway series engine, the world's first turbofan engine, is one of them.
When Li Yian visited the UK two years ago, he made the decision to fund the development of this project. As an investor in the project, BMW not only sent engineers to participate in the development, but after the design was completed, BMW's Yongning factory used the same drawings, and the first experimental machine was built. Half a month ago, the first experimental machine was successfully operated.
On the test bench, as the operator gave instructions, the turbofan engine first made a slight buzzing sound, and the sound gradually became clear and powerful. Immediately afterwards, a powerful airflow poured in from the engine's inlet, pushing the turbine blades to rotate at high speed.
As the speed continues to increase, the sound of the engine becomes louder and louder, like a roaring beast. Under the guidance of the turbine blades, the airflow is compressed, heated, and then ejected, forming a powerful thrust. This thrust made the air around the test platform tremble, as if one could feel the majestic power. On the test bench, the operators stared nervously and intently at the various data on the instrument panel, constantly adjusting the engine parameters.
Amidst the deafening roar, company manager Gu Mingjie introduced.
“Thanks to the company’s funding, Rolls-Royce completed the design of ROC.2 in November last year. The design work lasted four years. It is an improved design based on the RB.80 engine. The two-stage turbine is driven by a four-stage low-pressure compressor and an eight-stage high-pressure compressor. It successfully operated with a thrust of 10,000 pounds in January this year. Compared with the RB.80 turbojet engine, it consumes less fuel. It is lighter in weight and has greater thrust. We believe that through further improvements, its thrust can be approximately doubled.”
Looking at the engine on the test bench, the roar it makes is unique and even shocking. It is unforgettable, mixed with vicissitudes of life and slightly hoarse, and you can even hear a trace of shyness.
This engine is an absolutely epoch-making product in terms of technology and design. It is the world's first turbofan engine after all. There is no doubt about this.
"How long does it take from experimental machine to production?"
Li Yian turned around and asked.
"If the test run goes well, we will deliver the first batch of four "TE-1 engines" with a thrust of 10,000 pounds in April next year. The Aviation Industry Corporation has already communicated with us. They The new aircraft project currently uses the RB.80 turbojet engine. After delivery next year, if the test is successful, the TE-1 engine will be used. "
Aerospace engines ultimately need users, and it is. The only user is Nanyang's large aircraft - a jet airliner similar to the Boeing 707 passenger aircraft. Although it cannot hold the title of the world's first jet aircraft like the "Comet", it has excellent turbine capabilities. Fan the engine, it will definitely become a very good jet airliner.
It is even possible that like the Boeing 707, it will usher in a new era of human air transportation - bringing mankind into the jet age. It is also due to the widespread use of jet airliners and cheap air transportation. It replaced cruise ships and made transoceanic flights a commonplace thing.
By then, Nanyang Aviation Industries will surely become the most important large aircraft manufacturer in the world together with Boeing and Airbus in the future. Oh, by the way, there will also be Tupolev and IL in the future. , the Soviet Union will still use its own large aircraft.
Looking at this engine that was officially put on trial and listening to its unique sound, the corners of Li Yian's mouth raised. It only took 1.2 million pounds to change everything!
This 1.2 million pounds is Nanyang's investment in this engine project, which not only speeds up its development, but also allows it to come out ahead of schedule - in another world, although the Conway engine was as early as 1950 The design was completed in January of that year, but it was not until Churchill came back to power that he received official funding and built a test machine. Even so, it was far ahead. After all, it was the world's first turbofan engine.
And the design is extremely perfect. In the following decades, the performance and durability of the Conway engine have been talked about by the world.
"This time at least it was ahead of schedule. 2 years..."
There was a flash of amusement in his eyes, and Li Yian, standing on the shoulders of the historical giant, said in his heart with a slight smile on his lips.
“This is the real way ahead!”
(End of this chapter)