deltaBurn

deltaBurn is a research and development company based in Singapore. It designs aerodynamic add-ons for fans, propellers and rotors that cut fuel burn on aircraft already in service.

The company has patent-pending modifications for propulsion blades. It says they can reduce fuel burn and emissions by up to one third. Its equal-thrust tests showed about one third lower fuel flow in the tested conditions. It also reports lower stresses, lower temperatures and less noise.

deltaBurn does not replace engines. It adds precision-engineered attachments to existing fan blades and propellers. The rest of the engine is not touched. The firm says its on-blade flow modifiers remove blade shocks, redirect the swirl behind the blade and keep propulsion efficiency high across the flight envelope. In cruise, the modified fan gives more thrust at much lower torque. The company shows this on the ground and in test flying.

The target is the current fleet of about 29,000 commercial aircraft, plus the thousands on order. The company notes that aviation produces nearly 3 percent of global CO2. It also notes that sustainable aviation fuel is a low share of fuel burned and that new aircraft will take decades to reach the global fleet. deltaBurn aims to do seventy supplemental type certificates in five years or less. Each certificate would allow installation on a given aircraft.

Its first program is an FAA supplemental type certificate for the SA226 Merlin with TPE331 engines. The flight test program has 25 hours to go. A second program for the BAe146 and RJ with LF507 engines is in development with an operator, with the engine certificate holder raising no objection. Contracts are being discussed with another operator for A320 versions.

The company looks for partners who can provide aircraft and facilities for testing and certification. In return, they would get first access to certified modifications for their fleets. deltaBurn has offices in Sydney, Singapore, Clark, Subic, Glasgow and Phoenix.

Services

• Propeller aerodynamic modifications
• Fan blade aerodynamic modifications
• Rotor aerodynamic modifications
• Supplemental type certificate programs
• Flight testing