France-based Snecma has selected Unison Industries to provide patent pending air-cooled oil coolers for the newly developed Leap-1B jet engine.
The terms of the contract have not been disclosed.
Developed by Unison and based on the lightweight conformal surface cooler technology, the air-cooled oil coolers for the Leap-1B will optimise system weight and improve air-flow through the use of its integrated fin technology (IFT), resulting in lower fuel consumption and improved engine efficiency.
The conformal surface cooler technology was implemented on the GEnx-1B engine that powers Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and was also selected for the Passport engine.
Unison Industries president Mike Grunza said: "The LEAP-1B will be the third application for Unison’s air cooled oil coolers, which now have more than a year of reliable service on the Genx-1B."
Leap-1B engine is manufactured by CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture of Snecma and GE Aircraft Engines.
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By GlobalDataWith a thrust range between 20,000lbs and 28,000lbs, the engine is expected to offer fuel efficiency and reliability, as well as reduced noise and CO2 emissions.
The design of Leap-1B engine incorporates features of the CFM56 and GE90/GEnx series of engines to minimise fuel consumption, and improve reliability and maintenance cost design practices.
CFM’s Leap-1B was chosen by the US commercial aircraft maker Boeing as the sole power generator for the 737 Max aeroplane.
The next-generation of Boeing’s 737 jet liner, 737 Max is scheduled to take its first flight in 2016 with initial customer deliveries set to begin in late-2017.
Earlier this month, Snecma selected Ametek Sensors & Fluid Management Systems (SFMS) to provide pressure sensors and transducers for the Leap-1B jet engine.
Snecma, headquartered in Courcouronnes, France, is a subsidiary of aerospace components manufacturer Safran, which was formed by a merger between Snecma and electronics and communication systems provider Sagem in 2005.
Unison Industries, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, US, is involved in design, manufacture and integration of electrical and mechanical components and systems for aircraft engines and airframes to the general, commercial and military aviation industries.
