Aircraft Propulsion (AN F312)

Lecture 16
Dr. Sayan Das
BITS Pilani
Pilani Campus Campus
Hyderabad Department of Mechanical Engineering
TURBOFAN ENGINES

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Turbofan- basics
• Why do we need a turbofan ?
• How to achieve a high propulsive efficiency ?
Large cross sectional area of air intake

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T-s diagram for ideal turbofan engine
Core Engine Fan Engine

T T

s s

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Important results of cycle analysis
𝑐𝑝
• The fuel-air ratio: 𝑓 = 𝑇𝜏 𝜏 𝜏𝑏 − 1
𝑄𝑅 𝑎 𝑐 𝑟

𝑇 𝑎𝑎 2𝜏𝑏 2
• Specific thrust force: 𝑇𝑠 = = 𝜏𝑡 𝜏𝑐 𝜏𝑟 − 1 − 𝑀𝑎 + 𝛽 𝜏𝐹 𝜏𝑟 − 1 − 𝑀𝑎 , where
𝑚ሶ 𝐹 +𝑚ሶ 𝑐 1+𝛽 𝛾−1 𝛾−1
𝑇04 𝑇03 𝑇05 𝛾−1 2 𝑇013 𝒎ሶ 𝑭
𝜏𝑏 = ,𝜏 = ,𝜏 = ,𝜏 =1+ 𝑀𝑎 , 𝜏𝐹 = ,𝜷 = .
𝑇03 𝑐 𝑇02 𝑡 𝑇04 𝑟 2 𝑇02 𝒎ሶ 𝒄

𝑓 𝑓
• TSFC: = .
𝑇/𝑚ሶ 𝑐 1+𝛽 𝑇𝑠

Thrust Power 2𝑇𝑉𝑎

• Propulsive efficiency: =
Rate of Kinetic energy of the incoming fluid 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝑉92 −𝑉𝑎2 +𝑚ሶ 𝐹 (𝑉19
2 −𝑉 2 )
𝑎

Rate of Kinetic energy of the incoming fluid 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝑉92 −𝑉𝑎2 +𝑚ሶ 𝐹 (𝑉19
2 −𝑉 2 )
𝑎 1
• Thermal Efficiency: = =1− ???
Total thermal energy 2𝑚ሶ 𝑓 𝑄𝑅 𝜏𝑐 𝜏𝑟

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Performance Analysis
• The important parameters, usually known, are: 𝜋𝑐 , 𝝅𝑭 , 𝑀𝑎 , 𝑇04 , Altitude, 𝜷 and 𝑄𝑅 . Here 𝛽 = bypass ratio.

• Why does the specific thrust initially

increase and then decrease with 𝜋𝑐 ?

• Why does the specific thrust decrease

at higher bypass ratio ?

• What is the reason for the decrease in

TSFC with 𝛽 and 𝜋𝑐 ?

• Does the thrust also decrease with 𝛽 ?

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Performance Analysis

• Note that the trend in variation of 𝜂𝑝

with 𝜋𝑐 is the same as that of 𝑇𝑆𝐹𝐶.

• 𝜂𝑝 increases with 𝛽.

• Why does 𝜂𝑡ℎ increase with 𝜋𝑐 ?

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Performance Analysis

𝜷 = 𝟓, 𝝅𝑭 = 𝟐

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Performance Analysis

𝜷 = 𝟓, 𝑴𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟓

• Is there an optimum 𝜋𝐹 ? What is it?

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Summary of Performance Analysis

• The specific thrust increases, while the TSFC decreases with the pressure ratio across the
compressor, 𝜋𝑐 , for a fixed value of 𝜋𝐹 and 𝛽.

• TSFC decreases with increase in 𝛽, but at the expense of significant reduction in specific
thrust.

• Propulsive efficiency increases with 𝛽.

• For a constant flight Mach number of 0.85 and 𝛽 = 5.0, the optimum pressure ratio across
the fan, 𝜋𝐹 , for maximum specific thrust and minimum TSFC is 3.5.

• This optimum 𝜋𝐹 , decreases with 𝛽.

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Example Problem
An ideal turbofan engine is flying at an altitude of 10 km and flight Mach number of 𝑀𝑎 = 0.85.
The pressure ratio across the compressor and the fan is 10 and 2 respectively. The temperature at
the combustor exit is 1400 K. The bypass ratio of the turbofan is 5. Determine 𝑇𝑠 , TSFC, 𝜂𝑝 , 𝜂𝑡ℎ .
Also determine 𝑇𝑠 and TSFC under static condition at sea-level. Take 𝑄𝑅 = 43000 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔. The
temperature and pressure at an altitude of 10 km is 223.3 K and 26.5 kPa, respectively. Assume
fully expanding fan and core nozzles.

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Forward Fan Mixed-flow engine

Turbine

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Forward Fan Mixed-flow engine

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Forward Fan Mixed-flow engine

What is the condition for efficient mixing ?

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Forward Fan Mixed-flow engine

Some important points:

• The optimum fan pressure ratio for a mixed-flow engine is generally lower than that for a unmixed flow
for a given BPR.
• At a given fan pressure ratio, the mixed-flow engine has a lower BPR and therefore a higher specific
thrust.
• The amount of power, which the LPT supplies to drive the fan, will be smaller.

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Example problem
A two-spool turbofan engine is in its preliminary design stages. Two configurations for the
engine are to be compared: namely the mixed and the unmixed types. The following
characteristics are to be considered M = 0.9, altitude = 33000 ft (where Ta = 222 K and pa = 26.2
kPa), fan pressure ratio (πf = 2), compressor pressure ratio (πc = 8), maximum temperature =
1400 K, fuel-to-air ratio f = 0.017, fuel heating value QR = 43000 kJ/kg.
Both cases have the same BPR. For the mixing type, the outlet streams of the fan and the LPT
have the same total pressure just prior to mixing. Calculate
1. The BPR (β).
2. For the same BPR, which one gives better thrust with low TSFC.
Assume full expansion in the nozzles.

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Mixed-turbofan with afterburner

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Aft-fan turbofan engine

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Thank You

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus