Schaeffler Reduces CO2 Emissions in the Aviation Sector

A cylindrical roller bearing from the “most frequently flown” aircraft engine in the world, the CFM56, which is installed in aircraft that include the Airbus A320: The inner and outer rings in this bearing system are made from different special materials, the steel cage is silver-plated, and the cooling lubricant is supplied via lubricant ducts and grooves beneath the shaft.

Schaeffler Aerospace Germany will be presenting a range of solutions for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the aviation sector at the Paris Air Show 2019. From bearing reconditioning solutions for reducing CO2 emissions and costs and innovative bearing materials for aircraft engines with higher speeds and thrust loads through to bearing integration, visitors are sure to be thoroughly impressed by Schaeffler’s technology and systems expertise.

CO₂ savings of 80 percent thanks to reconditioning

In addition to the new development of innovative rolling bearing solutions for aviation and aerospace applications, Schaeffler Aerospace is also a leader in the reconditioning of aerospace bearings. Using two cylindrical roller bearings – one new and one reconditioned – from the “most frequently flown” aircraft engine in the world, the CFM56, which is installed in aircraft that include the Airbus A320, Schaeffler will demonstrate that there is no technical difference for the operator between a new bearing and a reconditioned bearing.

The inner and outer rings in this bearing system are made from different special materials, the steel cage is silver-plated, and the cooling lubricant is supplied via lubricant ducts and grooves beneath the shaft. The reconditioning of such a complex system reduces its lifecycle costs and helps to protect the environment: A reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 80 percent can be achieved by reconditioning bearings rather than manufacturing new ones.

The reconditioned bearings are also completely safe: This is because, in addition to the most essential approvals from the FAA, EASA, and CAAC civil aviation authorities, official repair authorizations from engine manufacturers like Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, GE, CFM, and IAE are also a prerequisite for consistently high system reliability. The reconditioning methods and quality inspections are directly monitored and audited by the engine manufacturers themselves. Schaeffler Aerospace is certified and approved according to the NADCAP and to AS9100 among others.

Better performance and increased system reliability without increased fuel consumption

As a leading manufacturer of aircraft engine bearing supports, Schaeffler Aerospace is working with engine manufacturers to create new developments that increase engines’ overall efficiency and thus reduce their fuel consumption.

New engines have to deliver better performance as well as higher speeds and thrust loads, which is why Schaeffler has developed special heat treatment methods for aerospace bearing steels. Schaeffler currently offers the aviation sector’s most high-performance combination of material and heat treatment: A specially developed, case-hardened alloy with specific compressive residual forces in the case and a tough core that ensures outstanding system reliability in high-speed applications. Better bearing performance allows higher speeds to be achieved. This results in better air compression and better performance without increasing fuel consumption – in other words, it saves fuel.

A matched system comprising eight main shaft bearings and 14 further engine components for the A380, including housing segments, seals, and non-rotating integrator parts/bearing retainers, demonstrates Schaeffler’s comprehensive systems expertise. The focus here is on bearing integration, in other words the combination of several functions such as bearing support, damping and elastic suspension, lubrication, and cooling. The integration of adjacent components into the bearing support means that material and thus weight can be saved, lifecycle costs reduced, engines made more compact, and mounting work made safer and simpler.

Following the renaming of its legal entity from FAG Aerospace to Schaeffler Aerospace Germany in April 2019, the business unit is now set to make its first appearance under the Schaeffler name at the leading international aviation and aerospace trade show.

Schaeffler at the Paris Air Show 2019 (Hall 2A, Booth C285)