Engineering:Shenyang WS-10

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Short description: Chinese fighter turbofan engine
WS-10
Shenyang WS-10.png
Type Turbofan
National origin China
Manufacturer Shenyang Liming Aircraft Engine Company
Designed by Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute
First run 1990s
Major applications Chengdu J-10C
Shenyang J-11B
Shenyang J-15
Shenyang J-16
Chengdu J-20
Status In production[1]
Number built 300+ (As of May 2015)[1]
Developed from CFM International CFM56
Developed into Shenyang WS-20

The Shenyang WS-10 (Chinese: 涡扇-10; pinyin: Wōshàn-10; literally: 'turbofan-10'), codename Taihang, is a turbofan engine designed and built by the China .

Chinese media reported 266 engines were manufactured from 2010 to 2012 for the J-11 program.[2] Unofficial estimates placed production at more than 300 units by May 2015.[1]

Description

The WS-10A is advertised as an engine with 120–140 kilonewtons (27,000–31,000 lbf) thrust.[1] It has full authority digital engine control (FADEC).[3]

Development

The WS-10 is derived from the CFM56 with the experience gained from the Woshan WS-6 turbofan project, which was abandoned at the start of the 1980s.[4] The WS-10 project was reportedly started by Deng Xiaoping in 1986 to produce an engine comparable to the Saturn AL-31. The work was given to the Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute (606 Institute) of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).[3] Initial production models suffered quality issues from the early direct use of AL-31 control systems. Furthermore, Salyut refused to sell the control system source code, forcing China to spend nearly 20 years developing its own code independently.[1] An early version of the FADEC flew on an J-8II in 2002.[1]

The WS-10A, targeted for 130 kilonewtons (29,000 lbf) of thrust,[3] was already in development in 2002.[5] In 2004, Russian sources familiar with project reported problems meeting the thrust target;[6] in 2005, they reported problems reducing the weight of the primary and secondary compressors, in addition to problems meeting thrust requirements.[7] Engine testing on the J-11 had already started by 2004,[6] and testing using one engine on the J-11 may have occurred as early as 2002.[5]

A full-scale WS-10A engine was first seen at the 2008 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[3]

In 2009, Western media claim that the WS-10A approached the performance of the AL-31, but took much longer than the AL-31 to develop thrust.[8] Furthermore, the engine reportedly only generated 110–125 kilonewtons (25,000–28,000 lbf) of thrust.[3] In April 2009, Lin Zuoming, head of AVIC, reported that the engine's quality was unsatisfactory.[9] In 2010, it was reported that reliability was also poor; the WS-10A lasted only 30 hours, while the AL-31 needed refurbishing after 400 hours.[10] The quality problems encountered with the WS-10A reflected the state of the Chinese aerospace industry. AVIC initiated a general effort to improve quality control throughout its production chain in 2011.[11]

The WS-10A reportedly matured enough after 2009 to power the twin-engined J-11B Block 02 aircraft.[12] Production or performance issues may have prevented the WS-10A from powering the single-engined J-10B.[13] In 2018, Chinese state media reported an increase in engine lifespan from 800 to 1,500 hours due to the increased heat resistance of new third-generation single-crystal turbine blades.[14]

In March 2020, Chinese state media released a video showing a WS-10B-powered J-10C; aircraft markings suggest it was part of the fourth batch of J-10Cs for the PLAAF.[15]

The WS-10 has also powered various versions of the Chengdu J-20. The WS-10B reportedly powered low rate initial production aircraft in 2015,[16] and was used as an interim engine before the adoption of the AL-31.[17][18] In 2019, the Xian WS-15 – the J-20's intended engine – failed trials, leading to the decision to replace the AL-31 with the WS-10C as the interim engine; reportedly, the AL-31 was unacceptable because Russia refused to sell additional engines unless China also bought the Sukhoi Su-35 as well.[18] Testing was underway by November 2020.[19] In June 2021, Chinese media confirmed that the WS-10C was powering operational J-20As.[20] In January 2022, it was reported that J-20's powered by the WS-10C would be upgraded with TVC.[21]

The original WS-10A has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 7.5, the improved WS-10B is rated approximately 9.0, while the WS-10C is capable of 9.5 or higher — adequate for the Chengdu J-20 to be capable of supercruise.[22]

In November 2022, a production Shenyang J-15 powered by the WS-10, possible the WS-10B, appeared in Chinese media.[23] It was the last indigenous Chinese combat aircraft to replace the AL-31;[24] possibly due to navalisation.[25] According to Chinese observers, compared to the AL-31 the WS-10 had superior safety, reliability, and service life, aspects which are magnified by the constraints of carrier aviation.[26] The replacement reflected continuing improvements in China's aviation engine industry.[27]

WS-20 (WS-188)

Main page: Engineering:Shenyang WS-20

The Shenyang WS-20 (WS-188) is a high-bypass engine,[13] reportedly producing 13.8 tons of thrust.[28] It is believed to be based on the core of the WS-10A.[3][29]

The Shenyang WS-20 is believed to be intended for the Y-20 strategic airlifter.[28]

Thrust vectoring

A testbed J-10B powered by a WS-10 with thrust vectoring (TVC) – called "WS-10B-3" by Jamie Hunter – was demonstrated at the 2018 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[30] The TVC nozzle uses actuator-assisted moving petals, similar in concept to General Electric's axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle (AVEN) and Pratt & Whitney's pitch-yaw balance beam nozzle (PYBBN).[31]

Variants

  • WS-10 – base variant
  • WS-10A – improved variant with FADEC;[3] advertised to have 120–140 kilonewtons (27,000–31,000 lbf) thrust.[1]
  • WS-10B – improved variant with greater reliability and thrust; based on the WS-10A,[32] with thrust reported as 135 kilonewtons (30,000 lbf) by Janes in 2020[23] and 144 kilonewtons (32,000 lbf) by Chinese media.[33][34][better source needed]
  • WS-10H – Naval variant equipped on two Shenyang J-15 prototypes. Limited to testing.[23]
  • WS-10B-3 – TVC variant[30]
  • WS-10C – "Updated"[19] variant with stealthier serrated exhaust feathers and improved thrust of 142 kilonewtons (32,000 lbf).[35]
  • WS-10G – thrust vectoring variant[36] generating 152–155 kilonewtons (34,000–35,000 lbf) of thrust during testing;[3] intended for the Chengdu J-20[36]
  • WS-20 – high-bypass derivative for the Y-20 transport; 138 kilonewtons (31,000 lbf) of thrust[28]
  • QD70 – 7MW class gas turbine engine developed from WS-10 for industrial & naval applications[37]

Applications

J-16 with WS-10 engines taking off
WS-10
WS-10A
WS-10B
WS-10B-3
  • Chengdu J-10B (demonstrator)[30]
  • Chengdu J-20B (prototype)[30]
WS-10C

Specifications (WS-10A)

General characteristics

  • Type: Afterburning turbofan
  • Length:
  • Diameter:
  • Dry weight:

Components

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Fisher, Richard (27 May 2015). "ANALYSIS: Can China break the military aircraft engine bottleneck?". http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-can-china-break-the-military-aircraft-engine-412424/. 
  2. "美称中国近三年内共生产约266台太行发动机" (in zh). 20 December 2012. http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2012-12-20/0754710238.html. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Fisher, Richard Jr. (30 December 2009). "October Surprises in Chinese Aerospace". International Assessment and Strategy Center. http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.219/pub_detail.asp. 
  4. "LM WS10A Tai Hang (China), Aero-engines – Turbofan". Jane's Information Group. 26 January 2010. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Aero-Engines/LM-WS10A-Tai-Hang-China.html. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (7 October 2003). "New Developments in Russia-China Military Relations: A Report on the August 19-23 2003 Moscow Aerospace Salon (MAKS)". United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. http://www.uscc.gov/researchpapers/2000_2003/reports/mair1.htm. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 Fisher, Richard Jr. (13 December 2004). "Report on the 5th Airshow China: Zhuhai, PRC, November 1-7, 2004". International Assessment and Strategy Center. http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.54/pub_detail.asp. 
  7. Fisher, Richard Jr. (12 September 2005). "Chinese Dimensions of the 2005 Moscow Aerospace Show". International Assessment and Strategy Center. http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.78/pub_detail.asp. 
  8. Saunders et al., p. 37
  9. Saunders et al., p. 44
  10. Pomfret, John (25 December 2010). "Military strength is eluding China". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/24/AR2010122403009.html. 
  11. Collins, Gabe; Erickson, Andrew (26 June 2011). "Jet Engine Development in China: Indigenous high-performance turbofans are a final step toward fully independent fighter production". http://www.chinasignpost.com/2011/06/26/jet-engine-development-in-china-indigenous-high-performance-turbofans-are-a-final-step-toward-fully-independent-fighter-production/. 
  12. Rupprecht, Andreas (December 2011). "China's 'Flanker' gains momentum. Shenyang J-11 update.". Combat Aircraft Monthly 12 (12): 40–42. 
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