An appreciation of subsonic engine technology

  • Egbert Torenbeek
Chapter

Summary

This survey presents some background information which is required when an engine has to be chosen for a new subsonic aircraft design.

The first chapter compares piston and turbo-engines and their principal applications. The second chapter presents a survey of the characteristics, possible applications and performance of piston engines with a power rating of up to about 500. h.p. Various engine configurations are discussed and a generalized method is given for estimating the takeoff power and weight of the piston engine.

Single flow, bypass turbojet engines and turboprop engines are compared, taking a division between the gas generator and the propulsive device as the point of departure. An explanation of the significance of the thermal efficiency and propulsive efficiency, as well as specific fuel consumption, specific thrust and power rating, is also given. The influence of the compressor pressure ratio, turbine inlet temperature and bypass ratio on engine performance, general configuration, weight, drag and external engine noise is discussed on the basis of generalized data. Some attention is paid to possible future developments.

Keywords

Pressure Ratio Specific Fuel Consumption Piston Engine Turbojet Engine Propulsive Efficiency 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Nomenclature

Ae

exhaust nozzle area

BHP

Brake Horse Power (Pbr)

BMEP

Brake Mean Effective Power

BPR

By Pass Ratio

CT

specific fuel consumption of turbojet engine

CP

specific fuel consumption of propeller engine

cp

specific heat of engine air at constant pressure

D

drag

FPR

Fan Pressure Ratio (= εf)

G

gas generator function

g

acceleration due to gravity

H

heating value of fuel

h

enthalpy; altitude

IMEP

Indicated Mean Effective Pressure

ISA

ICAO Standard Atmosphere

K

ratio for estimating engine weight

k

constant of proportionality

Mo

flight Mach number

METO

Maximum Except Take-Off (power)

ṁ

mass flow per unit time

Ncyl

number of cylinders per engine

n

engine rotation speed; exponent of V in polytropic process; exponent of Vcyl

OPR

Overall Pressure Ratio (= εc)

P

power

Pbr

brake horsepower

convertible energy, generated by gasifier

Pto

static takeoff power

p

(static) pressure

po

ambient (static) pressure

pt

total (stagnation) pressure

R

gas constant; ratio for estimating piston engine takeoff power

rpm

revolutions per minute

SFC

Specific Fuel Consumption (CT or CP)

shp

shaft horsepower

T

(static) temperature; thrust

To

ambient temperature

Ts

standard ambient temperature

Tt

total (stagnation) temperature

TET,TIT

Turbine Entry (Intake) total Temperature ()

V

specific volume of a charge (piston engine)

Vo

flight speed

Vcyl

total swept cylinder volume per engine

v

velocity of fully expanded exhaust flow

We

dry engine weight

ẇ

weight flow per unit time (no index: engine air)

γ

ratio of specific heats of air

δm

relative static pressure = static pressure/ambient pressure

Δ

increment

ε

compression ratio (piston engine); pressure ratio (gasturbine engine)

η

efficiency

λ

bypass ratio

ρ

atmospheric density

σ

relative (atmospheric) density

φ

non-dimensional TET

B

combustion chamber

c

(high pressure) compressor

cr

cruising flight

cyl

cylinder(s)

d

intake duct

e

engine (installation); exhaust opening

F

fuel

f

fan

g

gas generator; gearing

i

fuel injection

id

ideal (thrust definition)

j

jet

m

manifold inlet

mech

mechanical transmission (gearbox)

n

rotational speed

p

propulsive; pressure

prop

propeller

r

ram effect

s

supercharging

sn

standard net (thrust definition)

t

turbine

tf

combination turbine-fan

to

takeoff

tot

overall (efficiency definition)

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References

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1982

Authors and Affiliations

  • Egbert Torenbeek
    • 1
  1. 1.Delft University of TechnologyDelftThe Netherlands

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