Hear that whirring sound? That’s the sound of innovation. That’s the sound of the Whittle Laboratory. The Whittle Laboratory stands before us. It is a hub of groundbreaking research. It focuses on reducing the climate impact of aircraft and power generation.
This lab is part of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering. The Whittle Laboratory has a rich history. Its origins trace back to Sir Frank Whittle. Sir Frank Whittle and his team invented the jet engine in 1937. The lab officially opened in 1973. Its goal was to advance the technology for mass air travel.
Sir Frank Whittle was a remarkable man. He joined the RAF at 16. He later studied engineering at Cambridge. There, he found support for his jet engine concept. He formed Power Jets Ltd in 1936. He faced many challenges, including turbine blade failure. But he overcame them with innovative solutions.
Today, the Whittle Laboratory is a world leader. It excels in jet engine and power generation research. It has partnered with industry giants like Rolls-Royce. It also works with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Siemens. These partnerships have lasted for over 50 years. Dyson has been a partner for 10 years. The lab also collaborates with new aviation sector entrants.
The Whittle Laboratory has turned many research ideas into real products. It has earned the Gas Turbine Award 15 times. This is more than any other institution. The lab’s current focus is decarbonizing flight and energy.
The Whittle Laboratory’s initial setup was funded by the Science Research Council. Sir John Horlock became the lab’s first director. Sir William Hawthorne also played a key role. He had developed the combustion chamber in Whittle’s jet engine.
The Whittle Laboratory has pioneered computational methods. Professor John Denton developed numerical methods for flow calculation in turbomachines. These methods became widely used. They helped researchers understand loss mechanisms within turbomachines. The Denton code TBLOCK has been converted to Turbostream. Turbostream uses NVIDIA GPUs for faster computations.
The Whittle Laboratory boasts impressive experimental facilities. These include five low-speed wind tunnels. There is also a variable density loop. The lab houses 13 compressor, fan, and turbine test facilities. These facilities support various research activities. They include boundary layer ingestion and transonic flow studies. The lab also has manufacturing facilities. These include 3D printing and CNC machining.
The Whittle Laboratory bridges the gap between research and product development. It has long-standing partnerships with Rolls-Royce and others. More recently, it has partnered with Dyson and other companies. The lab also collaborates on sports aerodynamics. It works with British Cycling and the ECB.
The New Whittle Laboratory aims to accelerate net-zero flight. Recent trials have shown the ability to reduce technology development time. This can be reduced by a factor of 10 to 100. The New Whittle Laboratory will house the National Centre for Propulsion and Power. It will feature a new variable density tunnel and rotating test stand. King Charles III broke ground on this facility in May 2023.
The Whittle Laboratory has received over 100 international awards. These awards recognize its contributions to propulsion and power research.
Sir Frank Whittle himself thought fondly of his time at Cambridge. He donated his papers to the Churchill Archives Centre. His invention revolutionized air travel. It also plays a vital role in gas turbines for ships and electricity generation. The Whittle Laboratory embodies his legacy of innovation. It continues to push the boundaries of engineering.