High Horsepower with Holset Turbochargers

Since its introduction in 1914, passenger air travel has grown to be an essential part of modern life. It is due to this demand and the growth in popularity of long haul travel that European manufacturer Airbus launched the world’s biggest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380.

With a wingspan of 261ft / 79.8 metres and a length of 239ft / 73 metres, the double decked A380 has 50% more floor space than the next largest airliner, the Boeing 747-400. This phenomenally large aircraft can seat up to 853 passengers in an all economy configuration or up to 525 people in a typical three class configuration.

Aircraft have no reverse gear and therefore rely on special tractors to push them to their taxi position on the airfield. Normally this is not an issue because airports can use a single type of tractor to manoeuvre a variety of aircraft. This is not the case with the A380, with a maximum take off weight of 560,000Kg / 1,200,000lb (equivalent to approximately 38 truck and trailers) this aircraft requires a specialist high horsepower tractor.

Douglas-Kalmar, a UK based manufacturer designed and developed the TBL 600 towbarless tractor especially to use with the A380. Powered by the dependable Cummins QSK 19 engine complete with a Holset HX83 turbocharger, this application is at the leading edge of technology employed in ground support equipment whilst at the same time utilizes proven, well supported components and systems with excellent reliability and longevity of in-service life.

By adopting a well proven design concept similar to other models in the Douglas-Kalmar range, the TBL 600 is easy to maintain and simple to operate. Maintenance costs and running costs have also been kept to a minimum due to the efficiency of its Cummins engine.

Readers of NOW may already be familiar with the Douglas-Kalmar TBL 600, as it appeared in the 2006 James Bond Casino Royale movie in a memorable scene where Bond used the TBL 600 to chase a criminal at Los Angelis Airport!

This application has to generate extremely high horsepower to be able to move an aircraft that is as heavy as the Airbus A380 and it is because of this, engineers at Cummins Turbo Technologies recommended the durable Holset HX83 turbocharger, with a Machined-From-Solid (MFS) Titanium impeller wheel.

Impeller durability is a key factor when selecting turbochargers for all high horsepower applications. Standard cast aluminium impellers cannot achieve the same durability as MFS forged turbocharger impellers. The five-axis CNC operation used to manufacture the impeller wheels helps to create intricate aerodynamic impeller blade profiles, allowing for optimal aerodynamic and mechanical performance.

For further information please contact:
Alison Smith, Central Marketing Services,
Tel: + 44 1484 422244, Fax: + 44 1484 452623
E-Mail: alison.j.smith@cummins.com