Chinese Engine Development
- Thread starter jackbh
- Start date
Rafale has same nozzle.
coolieno99
Junior Member
It's designation would have to be changed then. We're all pretty sure WS-15 is the 10:1 t/w turbofan at this point?
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aquauant
Junior Member
just out of curiosity, why does the advancement of Chinese WS engine research encounter so much difficulties and delays whereas other military hardware/software can catch up relatively fast with the western counterparts?
Is it because there are some engine-related fields such as metallurgy that hinders the engine research/production?
Is it because there are some engine-related fields such as metallurgy that hinders the engine research/production?
Infra_Man99
Banned Idiot
It may be the metallurgy. One problem (out of many) is probably the control of the combustion reaction. Look at car engines. The metallurgy isn't the most advanced in the world, but the combustion reaction is extremely difficult to control from low RPMs to high RPMs to obtain class-leading results. BMW cars, Toyota cars, and Honda cars are all over the world, but only a few people know how to design and improve the world's best car engines. America has phenomenal jet engines, but America lags Germany and Japan when it comes to making high quality car engines (and good cars in general).
Mass production is very different from R&D. Only a few facilities have the training and tools to mass produce the world's best car engines (and best cars overall).
It has more to do with cheap fuel and no one intrested in small light cars or tough regulations. The US is capable on producing comparable technology.
Jet engines are difficult due to many factors. If you not have knowledge and history then you need lot of time and testing. Just see that the western engines (end certainly Russian) are based on one particular design or "invention" and they moved on to better reliability and more thrust. The engine manufacturors are not waiting for another party and neither can you just produce on that is trusted without rigorous testing.
Infra_Man99
Banned Idiot
I was just using cars as an analogy, but the analogy still stands. The US is capable of producing comparable cars, but NOT better cars. There is a reason why BMW is BMW, Honda is Honda, and Toyota is Toyota. The US makes good trucks and SUVs, but so do other auto makers. You can keep telling yourself Cadillac, Lincoln, and Buick are as good as a BMW, but you can't fool millions of wealthy buyers around the world.
You can insist that Ford's mid-priced sedans are as good as Volkswagen's or Honda's or Toyota's, but you won't convince millions of consumers across the globe. The only time GM or Ford makes an excellent European car or foreign car is when they outsource the design, research, and manufacturing to other nations. GM and Ford were once great automakers, but nowadays, they are struggling to compete against European, Japanese, and Korean auto companies in luxury cars, in mid-priced cars, and in affordable cars. GM and Ford are also losing their grip on trucks and SUVs for industries and consumers.
I think China has the metallurgy to produce a last generation engine, but China needs more tests on controlling the air inflow and combustion reaction at various speeds and altitudes. In regard to the most advanced engines, China lacks the metallurgy and the inflow-combustion control. I have read industry news of China's advances in metallurgy and some claim China is near the best, yet China struggles to make world-class automobile engines and jet engines.
I also question China's manufacturing ability for advance engines. All of these things require lots of talent, experience, training, facilities, tools, and resources.
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These are all issues that will be solved in due time, hell the Koreans managed to bridge the gap with fewer resources, Chinese wouldn't do any less having access to more.
Of course, metallurgy is only one part of making a functional engine. I'm sure at best metallurgy is only one of many factors China will need to improve in order to become a competitive producer of jet engines.