Aircraft Propulsion

Syllabus

1. Introduction (2 hours)
   1. Brayton cycle
   2. Types of jet engine
   3. Components of jet engine
   4. Basics of total and static enthalpies
   5. Thrust equations and propulsive efficiencies
2. Fundamentals of Thermal Turbo-Machines (8 hours)
   1. Review on compressible aerodynamics
   2. Turbo-machine system discretization
   3. Fundamental equations: conservation of mass, energy and momentum, Euler's turbine equation, rothalpy
   4. Efficiencies
   5. Isentropic efficiency
   6. Calculating with isentropic efficiencies
   7. Polytropic efficiency
3. Combustion Chambers and Nozzles (8 hours)
   1. Classification of combustion chambers
   2. Important factors affecting combustion chamber design
   3. Combustion process
   4. Combustion chamber performance
   5. Effect of operating variables on performance: flame tube cooling, flame stabilization, use of flame holders
   6. Theory of flow in isentropic nozzles
   7. Convergent nozzles and nozzle choking
   8. Nozzle throat conditions: nozzle efficiency, losses in nozzles, over expanded and under expanded nozzles
4. Inlet and Compressors (10 hours)
   1. Inlet design and types of compressors
   2. Stage velocity triangle
   3. First design parameter: degree of reaction
   4. Second design parameter: loading factor
   5. Third design parameter: flow coefficient
   6. The normalized velocity triangle
   7. Special cases: degree of reaction equal to one half, zero exit swirl
   8. Simplified off-design analysis
   9. Axial compressor: effect of degree of reaction
   10. Compressor design aspects: rotor types, multiple rotors, rotor blade mount, stator vane mount, variable stage geometry
   11. Surge control (bleed valve)
   12. Boundary layer control
   13. Aspiration
   14. Blade twist
5. Turbines (8 hours)
   1. Types of turbine
   2. Stage velocity triangles
   3. First design parameter: degree of reaction
   4. Second design parameter: loading factor
   5. Third design parameter: flow coefficient
   6. The normalized velocity triangle
   7. Special cases: degree of reaction equal to zero, degree of reaction equal to one-half, zero exit swirl
   8. Axial turbine: effects of degree of reaction
   9. Turbine design aspects: disk rotor, drum rotor, sealing aspects, action turbine, reaction turbine, turbine blade geometry, three-dimensional effects
   10. Design of multistage turbine
6. Losses in Turbo-Machines (6 hours)
   1. Losses
   2. Losses in a turbine stage
   3. Loss coefficients
   4. Dependency of the efficiency from design parameters
   5. Reaction turbine
   6. Action turbine
7. Engine Systems (3 hours)
   1. Turbine engines: construction arrangement and operation of turbojet, turbofan, turbo-shaft and turbo-propeller engines; electronic engine control and fuel metering systems (FADEC)
   2. Engine indicating systems (EICAS/ECAM): EGT/ITT, engine speed, engine thrust indication, oil pressure and temperature, fuel pressure/temperature/flow, manifold pressure/engine torque/propeller speed
   3. Starting and ignition system: operation of engine start systems and components, ignition systems and components, maintenance safety requirements

Evaluation

1. Chapters 1 and 7 (5 hours): 8 marks
2. Chapter 2 (8 hours): 12 marks
3. Chapter 3 (8 hours): 12 marks
4. Chapter 4 (10 hours): 16 marks
5. Chapters 5 and 6 (14 hours): 12 marks