No.
My position is:
- if WS-15 were modified to be a VCE, we would probably know about it by now
- it is technologically unlikely for such a major change in its design to be carried out this late into its development process while aiming for service in the near term future (we've heard about aiming for production in mid 2020s for a while now, for example)
- it is uncharacteristic for the PLA to significantly pursue more advanced/technologically sophisticated redesigns for products relatively late into a product's development especially if it is intended for production or service in the near future, and if we are to entertain such an idea it requires significant grapevine backing (such as the decision for EM catapult versus steam catapult for 003, in the mid 2010s)
I feel like changing the launch system of a country's first indigenous CATOBAR carrier would be harder to conceal than adding a CDFS and VSGs to an engine design, but who knows.
I mean, WS-15 did get a redesign though. And for it to reach a T/W of 11, max AB thrust of 181 kN, whilst being a supercruise engine, I think this counts as a major redesign. To what exactly? We are yet to find out.
I'm just putting forth a possibility it could be a VCE, NOT an ACE, regarding what the WS-15 was redesigned into. Therefore, is it really 'relatively late' into development if it has been revamped?
If we assume the rumors about WS-15 being in production next year are true, then from 2018, WS-15 took seven years to reach from revamp to actual production.
Take YF120. It also took around 7 years from development to testing in F120 configuration. I don't see how it's unreasonable for the PLA, especially since they aren't starting from scratch about a relatively new concept like GE was during the 1980s. And, allow me to repeat it again, a two-stream VCE, in principle, isn't actually that complicated.
But, this is just extrapolation. It could very well be wrong. But I'll forever remain baffled as to how they could really make a high T/W, fast supercruising engine without being a VCE.
I think you meant this one
Abstract
A new testing research on an existing engine provides an efficient way to explore critical engine technology.
A new method is proposed to develop VCE (variable cycle engine) from a conventional gas turbine (turbofan) engine.This paper also presents a configuration promotion project with introduction of selector valve,and puts forward VABI (variable area bypass injector) and rear VABI.The first stage of high pressure compressor is changed to a CDFS (core-driven fan stage).The working principle of the VCE is stated.Based on the components′ performance level of conventional turbofan engine,a primary overall performance project is carried out and a numerical simulation on VCE is conducted.The calculation results show that the thrust can be increased by 5% to 8% in supersonic cruise using single bypass mode.Although specific fuel consumption (SFC) cannot be decreased obviously in subsonic cruise using double bypass mode,the engine inlet air flux can be increased by 5%,so the spillover is reduced and installed performance of the engine can be improved.
I got the feeling that the conventional gas turbine in this paper is WS-10 when I read it in detail.
Sounds like it. I couldn't download the PDF though.
See, people did theorize that it's the WS-10, but their reasoning are that the WS-10 have a 9-stage HP compressor while the engine in the paper had a 8-stage HPC.
But do the WS-10 series actually have 9-stage HPCs?
