Multidisciplinary Analysis of a Geared Fan Intercooled Core Aero-Engine

Author(s):  
Konstantinos G. Kyprianidis ◽  
Andrew M. Rolt ◽  
Tomas Grönstedt

The reduction of CO2 emissions is strongly linked with the improvement of engine specific fuel consumption, along with the reduction of engine nacelle drag and weight. One alternative design approach to improving specific fuel consumption is to consider a geared fan combined with an increased overall pressure ratio intercooled core performance cycle. The thermal benefits from intercooling have been well documented in the literature. Nevertheless, there is very little information available in the public domain with respect to design space exploration of such an engine concept when combined with a geared fan. The present work uses a multidisciplinary conceptual design tool to analyze the option of an intercooled core geared fan aero engine for long haul applications with a 2020 entry into service technology level assumption. With minimum mission fuel in mind, the results indicate as optimal values a pressure ratio split exponent of 0.38 and an intercooler mass flow ratio of 1.18 at hot-day top of climb conditions. At ISA midcruise conditions a specific thrust of 86 m/s, a jet velocity ratio of 0.83, an intercooler effectiveness of 56%, and an overall pressure ratio value of 76 are likely to be a good choice. A 70,000 lbf intercooled turbofan engine is large enough to make efficient use of an all-axial compression system, particularly within a geared fan configuration, but intercooling is perhaps more likely to be applied to even larger engines. The proposed optimal jet velocity ratio is actually higher than the value one would expect by using standard analytical expressions, primarily because this design variable affects core efficiency at mid-cruise due to a combination of several different subtle changes to the core cycle and core component efficiencies at this condition. The analytical expressions do not consider changes in core efficiency and the beneficial effect of intercooling on transfer efficiency, nor do they account for losses in the bypass duct and jet pipe, while a relatively detailed engine performance model, such as the one utilized in this study, does. Mission fuel results from a surrogate model are in good agreement with the results obtained from a rubberized-wing aircraft model for some of the design parameters. This indicates that it is possible to replace an aircraft model with specific fuel consumption and weight penalty exchange rates. Nevertheless, drag count exchange rates have to be utilized to properly assess changes in mission fuel for those design parameters that affect nacelle diameter.

Author(s):  
Konstantinos G. Kyprianidis ◽  
Andrew M. Rolt ◽  
Tomas Grönstedt

Reduction of CO2 emissions is strongly linked with the improvement of engine specific fuel consumption, as well as the reduction of engine nacelle drag and weight. One alternative design approach to improving specific fuel consumption is to consider a geared fan combined with an increased overall pressure ratio intercooled core performance cycle. Thermal benefits from intercooling have been well documented in the literature. Nevertheless, there is very little information available in the public domain with respect to design space exploration of such an engine concept when combined with a geared fan. The present work uses a multidisciplinary conceptual design tool to analyse the option of an intercooled core geared fan aero engine for long haul applications with a 2020 entry into service technology level assumption. With minimum mission fuel in mind, the results indicate as optimal values a pressure ratio split exponent of 0.38 and an intercooler mass flow ratio just below 1.2 at hot-day top of climb conditions. At ISA mid-cruise conditions a specific thrust of 86m/s, a jet velocity ratio of 0.83, an intercooler effectiveness of 55% and an overall pressure ratio value of 76 are likely to be a good choice. A 70,000lbf intercooled turbofan engine is large enough to make efficient use of an all-axial compression system, particularly within a geared fan configuration, but intercooling is perhaps more likely to be applied to even larger engines. The proposed optimal jet velocity ratio is actually higher than the value one would expect by using standard analytical expressions primarily because this design variable affects core efficiency at mid-cruise due to a combination of several different subtle changes to the core cycle and core component efficiencies at this condition. Analytical expressions do not consider changes in core efficiency and the beneficial effect of intercooling on transfer efficiency, nor account for losses in the bypass duct and jet pipe, whilst a relatively detailed engine performance model such as the one utilised in this study does. Mission fuel results from a surrogate model are in good agreement with the results obtained from a rubberised-wing aircraft model for some of the design parameters. This indicates that it is possible to replace an aircraft model with specific fuel consumption and weight penalty exchange rates. Nevertheless, drag count exchange rates have to be utilised to properly assess changes in mission fuel for those design parameters that affect nacelle diameter.


Author(s):  
Adel Ghenaiet

This paper presents an evolutionary approach as the optimization framework to design for the optimal performance of a high-bypass unmixed turbofan to match with the power requirements of a commercial aircraft. The parametric analysis had the objective to highlight the effects of the principal design parameters on the propulsive performance in terms of specific fuel consumption and specific thrust. The design optimization procedure based on the genetic algorithm PIKAIA coupled to the developed engine performance analyzer (on-design and off-design) aimed at finding the propulsion cycle parameters minimizing the specific fuel consumption, while meeting the required thrusts in cruise and takeoff and the restrictions of temperatures limits, engine size and weight as well as pollutants emissions. This methodology does not use engine components’ maps and operates on simplifying assumptions which are satisfying the conceptual or early design stages. The predefined requirements and design constraints have resulted in an engine with high mass flow rate, bypass ratio and overall pressure ratio and a moderate turbine inlet temperature. In general, the optimized engine is fairly comparable with available engines of equivalent power range.


Author(s):  
Adel Ghenaiet

This paper deals with a parametric study and an optimization for the design variables of a high bypass unmixed turbofan equipping commercial aircrafts. The objective of the first part of this study is to highlight the effects of the principal design parameters (bypass ratio, compression ratios, turbine inlet temperature etc..) on the uninstalled performance, in terms of specific thrust and specific fuel consumption. The second part concerns the optimization, aiming at finding the optimum design parameters concurrently minimizing the specific fuel consumption at cruise, and meeting the thrust requirement at takeoff. The cycle analyzer (on-design and off-design) as coupled to the optimization algorithm MMFD by adopting a random multi-starts search strategy is shown to be stable and converging. The predefined requirements and constraints have dictated utilizing an engine with a high-bypass ratio, high-pressure ratio and a moderate turbine inlet temperature. In general, the obtained results compare fairly well with typical data available for an equivalent ‘reference’ engine. This elaborated methodology is shown to be consistent with the conceptual design requirements and accuracy, because, it does not use components’ characteristics, and operates on simplifying assumptions. This present methodology can be readily adapted for other configurations of aero-engines as well, and easily integrated in a multi-disciplinary design approach.


Author(s):  
Adel Ghenaiet

This paper presents a parametric study and an optimization approach, targeting the design of optimum mixed turbofan engines employed by long-range passenger aircraft. The first part of this paper concerns a parametric analysis carried out with the aim of highlighting the effects of principal design criteria on engine performance in terms of specific thrust and specific fuel consumption. The second part deals with the optimization to find the design parameters concurrently minimizing the specific fuel consumption at cruise. The backbone of the optimization approach consists of a genetic algorithm and a developed engine performance analysis method for both design point and off-design operations. This latter employs closed form analytical expressions instead of numerical solution using pre-defined components’ maps. This approach is deemed sufficient for simple feasibility studies carried out during the course of conceptual and preliminary designs. The strong coupling between the core and bypass streams has constrained the range of physical properties and reduced the space of search for the optimum. The results show possible benefits from utilizing the mixing of gases and a common propelling nozzle, which in some cases may increase the propulsive efficiency.


Author(s):  
Konstantinos G. Kyprianidis ◽  
Andrew M. Rolt

Reduction of CO2 emissions is strongly linked with the improvement of engine specific fuel consumption, as well as the reduction of engine nacelle drag and weight. One alternative design approach to improving specific fuel consumption is to consider a geared fan combined with an increased overall pressure ratio intercooled core performance cycle. Thermal benefits from intercooling have been well documented in the literature. Nevertheless, there is little information available in the public domain with respect to design space exploration of such an engine concept when combined with a geared fan. The present work uses a multidisciplinary conceptual design tool to further analyse the option of an intercooled core geared fan aero engine for long haul applications with a 2020 entry into service technology level assumption. The proposed design methodology is capable, with the utilised tool, of exploring the interaction of design criteria and providing critical design insight at engine-aircraft system level. Previous work by the authors focused on understanding the design space for this particular configuration with minimum specific fuel consumption, engine weight and mission fuel in mind. This was achieved by means of a parametric analysis, varying several engine design parameters — but only one at a time. The present work attempts to identify “globally” fuel burn optimal values for a set of engine design parameters by varying them all simultaneously. This permits the non-linear interactions between the parameters to be accounted. Special attention has been given to the fuel burn impact of the reduced HPC efficiency levels associated with low last stage blade heights. Three fuel optimal designs are considered, based on different assumptions. The results indicate that it is preferable to trade overall pressure ratio and pressure ratio split exponent, rather than specific thrust, as means of increasing blade height and hence reducing the associated fuel consumption penalties. It is interesting to note that even when considering the effect of HPC last stage blade height on efficiency there is still an equivalently good design at a reduced overall pressure ratio. This provides evidence that the overall economic optimum could be for a lower overall pressure ratio cycle. Customer requirements such as take-off distance and time to height play a very important role in determining a fuel optimal engine design. Tougher customer requirements result in bigger and heavier engines that burn more fuel. Higher overall pressure ratio intercooled engine cycles clearly become more attractive in aircraft applications that require larger engine sizes.


Author(s):  
R. Hirschkron ◽  
R. H. Davis

Long endurance naval patrol aircraft of the future will require more efficient advanced turboprop powerplants. Engines used in this kind of application will have performance requirements emphasizing prolonged endurance and very low specific fuel consumption for cruise and part-power loiter operation. Regenerative, regenerative/intercooled and advanced conventional cycle screening studies were carried out to select the cycle pressure ratio and turbine temperature for each type, considering the effects on installed performance and weight. Design and cycle choices were studied in each engine category including recuperator types, effectiveness, pressure drop, bypass bleed and variable area turbine nozzle. The engine characteristics of each type were then compared using a representative mission. The advanced conventional engine showed the largest potential, the regenerative second and the regenerative/intercooled the least promise for lower installed fuel consumption and improved mission performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed J. Khalid

Cruise specific fuel consumption (SFC) of turbofan engines is a key metric for increasing airline profitability and for reducing CO2 emissions. Although increasing design bypass ratio (BPR) of separate exhaust turbofan configurations improves cruise SFC, further improvements can be obtained with online control actuated variable geometry modulations of bypass nozzle throat area, core nozzle throat area, and compressor variable vanes (CVV/CVG). The scope of this paper is to show only the benefits possible, and the process used in determining those benefits, and not to suggest any particular control algorithm for searching the best combination of the control effectors. A parametric cycle study indicated that the effector modulations could increase the cruise BPR, core efficiency, transmission efficiency, propulsive efficiency, and ideal velocity ratio resulting in a cruise SFC improvement of as much as 2.6% depending upon the engine configuration. The changes in these metrics with control effector variations will be presented. Scheduling of CVV is already possible in legacy digital controls; perturbation to this schedule and modulation of nozzle areas should be explored in light of the low bandwidth requirements at steady-state cruise conditions.


Author(s):  
A. Goulas ◽  
S. Donnerhack ◽  
M. Flouros ◽  
D. Misirlis ◽  
Z. Vlahostergios ◽  
...  

Aiming in the direction of designing more efficient aero engines, various concepts have been developed in recent years, among which is the concept of an intercooled and recuperative aero engine. Particularly in the area of recuperation, MTU Aero Engines has been driving research activities in the last decade. This concept is based on the use of a system of heat exchangers mounted inside the hot-gas exhaust nozzle (recuperator). Through the operation of the system of heat exchangers, the heat from the exhaust gas, downstream the LP turbine of the jet engine is driven back to the combustion chamber. Thus, the preheated air enters the engine combustion chamber with increased enthalpy, providing improved combustion and by consequence, increased fuel economy and low-level emissions. If additionally an intercooler is placed between the compressor stages of the aero engine, the compressed air is then cooled by the intercooler thus, less compression work is required to reach the compressor target pressure. In this paper an overall assessment of the system is presented with particular focus on the recuperative system and the heat exchangers mounted into the aero engine’s exhaust nozzle. The herein presented results were based on the combined use of CFD computations, experimental measurements and thermodynamic cycle analysis. They focus on the effects of total pressure losses and heat exchanger efficiency on the aero engine performance especially the engine’s overall efficiency and the specific fuel consumption. More specifically, two different hot-gas exhaust nozzle configurations incorporating modifications in the system of heat exchangers are examined. The results show that significant improvements can be achieved in overall efficiency and specific fuel consumption hence contributing into the reduction of CO2 and NOx emissions. The design of a more sophisticated recuperation system can lead to further improvements in the aero engine efficiency in the reduction of fuel consumption. This work is part of the European funded research program LEMCOTEC (Low Emissions Core engine Technologies).


Author(s):  
Joachim Kurzke

The potential for improving the thermodynamic efficiency of aircraft engines is limited because the aerodynamic quality of the turbomachines has already achieved a very high level. While in the past increasing burner exit temperature did contribute to better cycle efficiency, this is no longer the case with today’s temperatures in the range of 1900...2000K. Increasing the cycle pressure ratio above 40 will yield only a small fuel consumption benefit. Therefore the only way to improve the fuel efficiency of aircraft engines significantly is to increase bypass ratio — which yields higher propulsive efficiency. A purely thermodynamic cycle study shows that specific fuel consumption decreases continuously with increasing bypass ratio. However, thermodynamics alone is a too simplistic view of the problem. A conventional direct drive turbofan of bypass ratio 6 looks very different to an engine with bypass ratio 10. Increasing bypass ratio above 10 makes it attractive to design an engine with a gearbox to separate the fan speed from the other low pressure components. Different rules apply for optimizing turbofans of conventional designs and those with a gearbox. This paper describes various criteria to be considered for optimizing the respective engines and their components. For illustrating the main differences between conventional and geared turbofans it is assumed that an existing core of medium pressure ratio with a two stage high pressure turbine is to be used. The design of the engines is done for takeoff rating because this is the mechanically most challenging condition. For each engine the flow annulus is examined and stress calculations for the disks are performed. The result of the integrated aero-thermodynamic and mechanical study allows a comparison of the fundamental differences between conventional and geared turbofans. At the same bypass ratio there will be no significant difference in specific fuel consumption between the alternative designs. The main difference is in the parts count which is much lower for the geared turbofan than for the conventional engine. However, these parts will be mechanically much more challenging than those of a conventional turbofan. If the bypass ratio is increased significantly above 10, then the geared turbofan becomes more and more attractive and the conventional turbofan design is no longer a real option. The maximum practical bypass ratio for ducted fans depends on the nacelle drag and how the installation problems can be solved.


Author(s):  
M. N. Khan ◽  
Ibrahim M. Alarifi ◽  
I. Tlili

Abstract Environmentally friendly and effective power systems have been receiving increased investigation due to the aim of addressing global warming, energy expansion, and economic growth. Gas turbine cycles are perceived as a useful technology that has advanced power capacity. In this research, a gas turbine cycle has been proposed and developed from a simple and regenerative gas turbine cycle to enhance performance and reduce Specific fuel consumption. The impact of specific factors regarding the proposed gas turbine cycle on thermal efficiency, net output, specific fuel consumption, and exergy destruction, have been inspected. The assessments of the pertinent parameters were performed based on conventional thermodynamic energy and exergy analysis. The results obtained indicate that the peak temperature of the Proposed Gas Turbine Cycle increased considerably without affecting fuel consumption. The results show that at Pressure Ratio (rp = 6) the performance of the Proposed Gas Turbine Cycle is much better than Single Gas Turbine Cycle but the total exergy destruction of Proposed Gas Turbine Cycle higher than the SGTC.


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