Engine performance
analysis
220308 - Aircraft Propulsion Systems
Contents
1. Corrected parameters
2. Component performance
3. Engine controls
4. Gas generator equations
1. Corrected
parameters
Introduction
Once the areas are determined, it is interesting to analyze
how the engine performs outside the design condition.
Hypotheses:
• Choked flow at the entrance of HPT and LPT.
• Total pressure ratios for main burner, nozzle and inlet
do not change.
• Component efficiencies do not change.
• Mechanical efficiency remains constant.
• Thermodynamic properties do not depend on Tt4.
• The term 1+f is considered constant.
4
Corrected parameters
Set of dimensionless parameters that allow data to be
taken from one condition to another. They are called
corrected parameters.
5
Corrected parameters
Pti
Pti δi =
Pref
Tti
Tti θi =
Tref
N
N (RPM) Nci =
θi
m· i θi
m· i m· ci =
δi
F
F Fc =
δ0
TSFC
TSFC TSFCc =
θ0
m· f
m· f m· fc =
δ2 θ2
*2 refers to diffuser exit
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Corrected parameters
Corrected mass flow parameter
Pref Ai
m· ci = MFP(Mi, γi)
x
RiTref
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2. Component
performance
Compressor performance
The performance of a gas turbine engine depends on
the operation of its gas generator. Taking the
continuity equation:
m· + m· = m·
2 f 4
The corrected mass flow rate can be expressed as
πc Pref A4
m· c2 = C1 C1 = πb MFP(M4, γ4)
Tt4 /Tt2 R4Tref 1+f
which is only valid when the turbine entrance is
choked.
9
Compressor performance
Choked flow
⇡c
ṁc2 = C1 p
10 Tt4 /Tt2
Compressor operating line
Take a balance of work between compressor and
turbine
ṁ2 Cp3 (Tt3 Tt2 ) = ⌘m ṁ2 (1 + f )Cp4 (Tt4 Tt5 )
And ✓ ◆ 3
Pt 3 Tt3 3 1
⇡c = = 1 + ⌘c 1
Pt 2 Tt2
Combining both equations, one obtains
Tt2 C2 ( )
Tt4 cP4 Tt5
( Tt4 )
1 γ3 − 1
= π c γ3 − 1 C2 = ηcηm (1 + f ) 1 −
cP3
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Compressor operating line
Compressor map equation.
⇡c
ṁc2 = C1 p
Tt4 /Tt2
Compressor operating line
equation.
⇡c C1
ṁc2 = q p
3 1
C 2
⇡c 3
1
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Turbine performance
Continuity equation at the start and end of the
turbine:
m· = m·
4 5
Generally M4 = 1, we obtain:
τt A5 MFP(M5, γ5)
=
πt A4 MFP(M4 = 1,γ4)
And recall: γt
γt − 1
( ηt )
1 − τt
πt = 1 −
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Turbine performance
γt
γt − 1
Reference data:
( ηt )
1 − τt
πt = 1− ηt = 0.9
γ = 1.33
(A5 /A4)ref = 2.46281
τt A5 MFP(M5, γ5)
=
πt A4 MFP(M4 = 1,γ4)
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Turbine performance
τt
πt
πt
τt
15
Turbine performance
Changing 𝜏t (through A5 or M5) has an effect on the
compressor operating line (through C2 constant):
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Shaft speed variation
From the stage loading coefficient
Tt3 − Tt2 ∝ N 2
Then, taking into account the corrected parameters and the isentropic
efficiency
Nc2 πc(γc−1)/γc − 1 (Tt4 /θ0)
= =
Nc2R (γc−1)/γc
πcR −1 (Tt4 /θ0)R
Now recalling that N is the same for the compressor and turbine
Nc2
Nc4 = Tref = ct .
(Tt4 /θ0)
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Component performance
maps
Compressor
Operating line
18
Component performance
maps
Burner
19
Component performance
maps
Turbine
20
3. Engine controls
Introduction
The engine control system (FADEC) controls the gas
generator operation to keep Tt4, compressor pressure
ratio, rotational speed, Tt3 and Pt3 from exceeding
maximum values.
From the reference condition
✓ ◆
Tt0 T0 1
Tt0 = Tref = Tref ✓0 ✓0 = 1+ M02
Tref Tref 2
22
Introduction
ISA atmosphere model
Effect of the atmosphere model
Tref
( T0 ) γ−1
2
M0 = θ0 −1 Tt0 ≥ T0
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Introduction
NRLMSISE00 atmosphere model
24
Theta break
Theta break is the point at which the control system
has to switch from limiting the pressure ratio to
limiting Tt4.
The best engine operation is found at theta break
conditions.
25
Theta break
Recalling compressor operating line equation and
rewriting in terms of Tt4 and Tt0:
γc
Tt4 γc − 1
( )
πc = 1+ K1 K1 = C2 /Tref
θ0
In terms of the corrected mass flow
γc
Tt4 γc − 1
Tt4 ( θ0 )
θ0
m· c2 = 1 + K1 K2 K2 = C1 Tref
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Theta break
Theta break
πc = πcma x πc = πcma x
Tt4 < Tt4,ma x Tt4 < Tt4,ma x
πc < πcma x
πc < πcma x
Tt4 = Tt4,ma x
Tt4 = Tt4,ma x
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Throttle ratio
From the most optimal theta break condition
Tt4,max Tt4
( θ0 )
= = Tt4,SLS
θ0break
SLS
Sea Level Static
Throttle ratio is defined as
Tt4,max
TR = = θ0break
Tt4,SLS
The flight Mach number at which theta break is
achieved is
2
M0break =
γ−1 ( θ0break − 1)
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4. Gas generator
equations
Gas generator equations
The following equations define the pumping
characteristics of a jet engine:
m· c2 πc (Tt4 /Tt2)R Nc2 (Tt4 /Tt2)
= =
(Tt4 /Tt2)R
·
(Tt4 /Tt2)
mc2R πcR Nc2R
γc
(Tt4 /Tt2) (Tt4 /Tt2)
γc − 1
( )
γc − 1
πc = 1 + π γc
−1 τc = 1 + (τcR − 1)
(Tt4 /Tt2)R (Tt4 /Tt2)R
cR
Tt4 /Tt2 − τccPc /cPt
m· cf = m· c2
ηbhPR /(cPtTref ) − Tt4 /Tref
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