Unit 4 AIRCRAFT PROPULSION

Introduction
• Lifting the aircraft from the ground and
moving to forward direction.
• It is mainly working on Newton Third law of
Motion : there is always equal and opposite
reaction force. The opposite reaction force is
called as Thrust.
 Types of Jet engine
• It is classified into two types namely
• (i)Air breathing Engine : it takes atmosphere
air for its combustion process.
• (ii) Non Air breathing Engine: It use the
Oxidizer carried by itself.
 Types of Jet Engine
• Air Breathing Engine:
1. Turbojet Engine 2. Turboprop engine
3.Turofan Engine 4.Ramjet engine
5.Pulse jet Engine
• Non Air Breathing Engine :
1.Rocket Engine.
Turbojet Engine
 Turbojet Engine
• It consist of
1) Diffuser
2)Compressor
3) Combustion Chamber
4) Turbine
5) Nozzle
• Air enters the turbojet engine through Diffuser. The
kinetic energy gets reduced and its static pressure is
increased in the Diffuser.
• Then it passes to compressor and compressed to high
pressure and temperature. The turbine drives the
compressor.
 Turbojet Engine
• High pressure air is sent to combustion chamber. Fuel
is supplied in the combustion chamber and combustion
take place. As the result of combustion, high pressure
and temperatures hot gas is produced.
• Hot gases expands adiabatically in the turbine which is
used to run the compressor
• Then hot gas allowed to expand in nozzle. The pressure
energy in the gas is converted into kinetic energy. The
velocity at the exit is very high; thus the thrust caused
by exhaust gases produced in the opposite direction.
The aircraft engine moves forward.
 Advantages of turbojet engine
• It runs smoothly and continuously
• Low grade fuel can be used
• Reheat is possible
• Because of the compressor, it can be operated in
Static conditions
• Less cost
• Less maintenance
• Less wear and tear
• Construction is simple
 Disadvantage of turbojet engine.
• Fuel consumption is high
• Low take of thrust
• Sudden reduction in speed is difficult
• Poor fuel economy at low Speed
• Propulsive efficiency and thrust at lower
speed is less.
Turboprop Engine
 Turboprop Engine
• The major components are a) propeller b)
reduction gear box c) diffuser d) compressor e)
combustion chamber f) turbine g) nozzle
• Turboprop engine is similar to turbojet engine
with additional component of the Propeller
• Propeller is used to increase the mass flow rate of
air which results in better fuel economy.
• Turbine used to run the compressor and
Propeller. Reduction gear box is used to reduce
the speed.
 Turboprop Engine
• Advantage
• High take of thrust
• Good propeller efficiency
• Less noise and vibrations
• Better fuel economy
• Operates at wide range of speed
• Sudden reduction in speed is possible
• Disadvantages
• It need the reduction gear box to run the propeller. So
its cost is higher. Angular velocity of the propeller is
limited
• Engine is heavier and need more space
Turbofan engine
 Turbofan engine
• It is a combination of turbojet and turboprop
engine.
• Air enters the turbofan engine though Fan. Then
it is branched into primary air (hot jet) and
secondary air (cold jet)
• The primary air is passed though the compressor,
combustion chamber, turbine and exhaust nozzle.
• The secondary air or cold air or bypass air is
allowed to expand in the fan nozzle
 Turbofan engine
Advantages
• High thrust than turbojet engine
• Less noise
• High take of thrust
• Weight per unit thrust is lower than turboprop engine
Disadvantages
• More frontal area
• Complex in construction
• Lower speed limit
• Higher Fuel consumption
RAMJET ENGINE
 Ramjet engine
• It consist of Diffuser, combustion chamber and nozzle
• Air enters the ramjet engine through the diffuser. The
pressure energy of the air is increased by the diffuser
by reducing the velocity. This energy transformation is
said to be ram effect.
• High pressure air is passed to combustion chamber and
react with fuel and combustion take place
• High pressure and high temperature hot gas is allowed
in the exhaust nozzle and produced thrust force.
 Ramjet engine
Advantages
• Simple due to the absence of rotating machinery
• Less noise
• Less maintanence
• Light weight
• Better specific fuel consumption
Disadvantages
• Take off thrust is zero so it need start up devices
• Combustion chamber need flame holder to stabilize
the flame
• Low thermal efficiency
Pulse jet engine
 Pulsejet engine
• The air enters the Pulsejet engine through the diffuser.
• The velocity of the air is decreased and static pressure
gets increased in diffuser
• Pressure difference across valve lead to opening and
allow the air to enter the combustion chamber.
• Fuel is supplied in the combustion chamber and mixed
with air. With help of fuel igniter combustion is taking
place.
• High pressure and temperature gases allowed to
expand in the nozzle and thrust is produced.
 Pulse jet engine
Advantages
• Simple in construction
• Low cost
• Light weight when compared to turbojet
Disadvantages
• High fuel consumption
• Low propulsive efficiency
• High vibrations
Turbojet engine
12.2 The diameter of the propeller of an aircraft is 2.5 m; it flies at a speed of 500 kmph at an
altitude of 8000m. for a flight to jet speed ratio of 0.75 determine (a) the flow rate of air
through the propeller, (b) thrust produced, (c) specific thrust, (d) specific impulse and (e) the
thrust Power.

Solution. Area of cross − sec tion of the propeller disc

π π
A = d = × 2.52 =
2
4.908 m 2
4 4
Air density at Z = 8000 m is
ρ = 0.525 kg / m3
=
Flight speed =
u 500 kmph 138.89 m / s
σ u=
= / c j 0.75
= =
c j 138.89 / 0.75 185.18 m / s
( a ) Velocity of air flow at the propeller disc is
1
=c (u + c j )
2
= 0.5(138.89 + 185.18)
c = 162.0.35m / s
Theortical value of the flow rate is given by
ma = ρ Ac =0.525 × 4.908 × 162.035
ma = 417.516 kg / s Ans
(b) =F ma (c j − u )
=F 417.516(185.18 − 138.89) × 10−3
F = 19.3268 kN Ans.
F 19326.8
(c ) =
Fs = = 46.29 N / (kg / s ) Ans.
ma 417.516
F F 46.29
(d ) =Is = = 4.718 s Ans.
wa ma g 9.18
(e) Thrust power is P= F × u
P = 19.3268 × 138.89 = 2684.kW Ans.
12.3 An aircraft flies at 960 kmph. One of its turbojet engines takes in 40 kg/s of air and expands the gases to the
ambient pressure. The air-fuel ratio is 50 and the lower calorific value of the fuel is 43 MJ/kg. for maximum thrust
power determine (a) jet velocity (b) thrust (c) specific thrust (d) thrust power (e) propulsive, thermal and overall
efficiencies and (f) TSFC.

Solution u= 960 ×1000 / 3600 =

266.7 m / s
=
(a ) For max imum thrust power σ u=/ c j 0.5
= =
c j 266.7 / 0.5 533.4 m / s
 ma 
m = ma + m f = ma 1 +
 m 
 f 

 1 
m = 40 1 +  = 40.8kg / s
 50 
=
F mc j − ma u
F (40.8 × 533.4 × −40 × 266.7) ×10−3
=
F = 11.094 kN Ans.
 (c) specific thrust based on air intake
Fs = F / ma
= =
Fs 11.094 / 40 277.35 N / (kg / s ) Ans.
(d ) Thrust power P= F × u
P = 11.094 × 266.7 = 2958.77 kW Ans.
1 2
(e) η p
= = 0.666 or 66.6% Ans.
1+ cj / u 1+ 2
1
m(c 2j − u 2 )
ηth = 2
mf Qf
1 40
m=
f m=a = 0.8 kg / s
50 50
0.5 × 40.8(533.42 − 266.7 2 )
ηth =
0.8 × 43 × 106
ηth = 0.1265 or 12.65% Ans.
12.5 A ramjet engine operates at M= 1.5 at an altitude of 6500 m. the diameter of the inlet diffuser at entry is 50 cm
and the stagnation temperature at the nozzle entry is 1600 K. the calorific value of the fuel used is 40 MJ/kg. the
properties of the combustion gases are same as those of air (γ = 1.4, R = 287j/kg-k). the velocity of air at the diffuser
exit is negligible
Calculate (a) the efficiency of the ideal cycle (b) flight speed (c) air rate (d) diffuser pressure ratio (e)
fuel –air ratio (f) nozzle pressure ratio (g) nozzle jet Mach number (h) propulsive efficiency (i) and thrust. Assume the
following values : ηD = 0.98, ηj = 0.96, stagnation pressure loss in the combustion chamber = 002p02

Solution. Refer to Figure12.24

Z = 6500 m the properties of air are
T1 =
245.90 =
K , p1 0.440 bar , a1 314.5 m / s
ρ1 = 0.624 kg / m3
(a ) Ideal cycle efficiency
−1
 2 1 
η= 1 + 2 
1
 γ + 1 M 1 
−1
 2 1 
η1 =
1 +  =
0.310 Ans
 1.4 + 1 1.52 
 u
(b) M 1 =
a1
u =×1.5 314.50 = 471.75 m / s
u = 1698.3 kmph Ans.
(c) Area of cross − section of the diffuser inlet
π
A1 = × 0.52 =0.1963 m 2
4
ma = ρ1uA1
ma =0.624 × 471.48 × 0.1963
ma = 57.752 kg / s Ans.
(d ) for negligible velocity at the diffuser exit , p02 = p2 ,
c p (T2 s − T1 ) ( rD )( ) − 1
γ − 1 /γ '

=ηD =
1 2 γ −1 2
c1 M1
2 2
γ −1 1.4 − 1
(rD )(
γ −1) / γ
1 ηD
=+ M 12 =+
1 0.9 × × 1.52
2 2
= =
rD (1.405) 3.5
3.2875 Ans.
 p2 =p02 =rD . p1 =3.2875 × 0.440 =
1.446 bar
T01 γ −1 2
=+
1 M 1 =+
1 0.2 ×1.52 =
1.45
T1 2
.
T02 =T01 =1.45 × 245.90 =356.55 Kma c p (T03 − T02 ) =η B m f Q f
.
mf
=
f = .
c p (T03 − T02 ) / η B .Q f
ma
f = 1.005(1600 − 356.55) / 0.98 × 40000
f = 0.03188 Ans.
p03 =− p02 0.02 p02 = 0.98 p2
p03 =0.98 ×1.446 =1.417 bar
Nozzle pressure ratio
p03 1.417
=
rj = = 3.22 Ans.
p4 0.440
(g) The Mach number at the nozzle exit for a pressure ratio of 3.22in isentropic expansion
would be M 4s =1.41; however,on account of irreversible expansion (η j =0.96)
the exit velocity and Mach number wil beslightly lower.
T04 γ −1 2
=+
1 M 4 s =+
1 0.2 ×1.412 =
1.3976
T4 s 2
=
T4 s 1600 /1.3976 1144.82 K
T04 − T=
4 η j (T04 − T4=
s) 0.96(1600 − 1144.82)
T4 =
1600 − 436.973 =
1163.027 K
T04= T4 + c42 / 2c p
c42 =2c p (T04 − T4 ) =×
2 1005 × 436.973
c4 = 937.185 m / s
 a4 = (1.4 × 287 × 1163.027)1/ 2 = 683.596 m / s
c4 937.185
M=
4 = = 1.371 Ans.
a4 683.596
σ u=
= = 0.503
/ c4 471.48 / 937.185
2σ 2 × 0.503
ηp =
= = 0.6693 Ans.
1 + σ 1 + 0.503
.
m f =57.752 × 0.03188 =1.841 kg / s
. . .
m =m a + m f =57.752 + 1.841 =59.593 kg / s
. .
=
F mc 4 − ma u
F = (59.593 × 937.185 − 57.752 × 471.75)10−3
F = 28.614 kN Ans.