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Located inside a high-tech NASA laboratory in Cleveland is something you could almost miss at first glance: a small-scale, fully operational jet engine to test new technology that could make aviation more sustainable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The engine\u2019s smaller size and modestly equipped test stand means researchers and engineers can try out newly designed engine components less expensively compared to using a more costly full-scale jet engine test rig.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Named DGEN380 Aero-Propulsion Research Turbofan, or DART, the engine is tiny enough to fit on a kitchen table, measuring at just 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) long. That\u2019s about half the length of engines used on single-aisle airliners.\u00a0<\/p>\n
DART \u2013 not to be confused with NASA\u2019s asteroid redirect mission of the same name \u2013 enables the agency to boost its sustainable aviation technology research because of its accessibility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
A hidden gem located inside the Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory at NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, the DART engine was made by a French company named Price Induction (now Akira) and was acquired by NASA in 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDART\u2019s small size makes it appealing,\u201d said Dan Sutliff, who coordinates research for the engine at NASA Glenn. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way to explore new technology that hasn\u2019t yet reached the level of a full-scale operation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several key NASA activities studying jet engines used DART in the past.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For example, it helped researchers learn more about incorporating materials that can help reduce engine noise. These technologies could be incorporated for use in next-generation airliners to make them quieter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, NASA researchers plan to use the DART engine to investigate ideas that could help develop new ultra-efficient airliners for use during the 2030s and beyond. If all goes well, the technology could proceed to more exhaustive tests involving larger facilities such as NASA\u2019s wind tunnels.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDART is a critical bridge between a design and a wind tunnel test,\u201d Sutliff said. \u201cTechnologies that work well here have a greater chance of achieving successful inclusion on future aircraft engines. The test rig helps NASA save resources and contribute to protecting our environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Among its features, DART has a high bypass ratio, which is a measure of how much air passes through the turbofan and around the main core of the engine as opposed to entering it. Having a high bypass ratio means that DART is more characteristic of larger high-bypass ratio engines on commercial aircraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This design is more fuel efficient than other jet engines and makes DART ideal for testing new propulsion methods alongside NASA\u2019s efforts in developing a small-core, fuel efficient jet engine for commercial airliners in the 2030s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The DART engine also can test many other aspects of a jet engine including engine noise, operating controls, coatings used to protect engine parts, sensors and other instrumentation, and much more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More information can be found on NASA\u2019s Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory webpage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n