Spencer Miller

Aerospace A4
April 8, 2015

Project Activity 2.2.3 Engine Simulator

Introduction:
For the activity performed today we utilized NASAs GRC Engine Simulator version 1.8a. The
intended purpose for the activity was to allow us as students to experience visually engines. We were
able to view standard types of engines with given values such as flight conditions or engine
components. The program allows us to edit these components, type or material, to be able to see
how these changes alter the function and performance of the engine.
Description:
For my individual activity I chose the RamJet engine type. This is a unique engine that does
not utilize and fans, vanes, or compressors. It instead compresses its intake by forcing moving air
past the inlet cone and into the burner. During the activity I had the availability to edit the inlet, burner,
and nozzle. My initial setup appeared as shown below. See data chart for additional information on
set up values.
Original Flight:

Aerospace Engineering Activity 2.2.3 Engine Page !1

Spencer Miller
Aerospace A4
April 8, 2015
Original Size:

My first
change was to the
burner. The burner
material was
changed from
Nickel alloy to
Ceramic. This
alteration reduced
weight as well as
allowing for higher
operating
temperatures.
Overall the
performance of the
engine improved.

Aerospace Engineering Activity 2.2.3 Engine Page !2

Spencer Miller
Aerospace A4
April 8, 2015
My second
change was to
the inlet. I
changed the
material from
aluminum to an
actively cooled
system. This had
similar result as
the previous
modification,
reducing weight
and increasing
temperature
resistance.

Conclusion:
My ultimate goal was to create a more versatile and efficient engine. By reducing the weight
with both alteration I was able to increase the power without any additional taxation. The increase
operating range granted me a high temperature graph and made my engine suitable to my needs. I
was able to see the improvement of my engine and its components. The unique thing about a ramjet
engine is that the internal pressure almost always remains constant unless the shape of the cone is
altered. This had an interesting effect on the pressure graph as well. Overall this activity served its
purpose in allowing me to gain enlightened experience and knowledge of jet engines in an
environment unlike any other available to a high school student.

Aerospace Engineering Activity 2.2.3 Engine Page !3

Spencer Miller
Aerospace A4
April 8, 2015

!
Project 2.2.3 Turbine Engine Design Data
Simulation

Engine type

Ramjet

Flight Conditions
Mach

0.476

Airspeed (mph)

350

Altitude (ft)

10,000

Pressure (lbs/in2)

10.127

Temperature (oF)

23.399

Throttle (%)

100

Afterburner (on/off)

Off

Design Variable
Inlet: pressure recovery

0.9

0.9

1.0

Fan: pressure ratio

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fan: efficiency

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fan: bypass ratio

N/A

N/A

N/A

Compressor: stages

N/A

N/A

N/A

Compressor: CPR

N/A

N/A

N/A

Compressor: efficiency

N/A

N/A

N/A

Burner: fuel type

Jet-A

Jet-A

Jet-A

Burner: max temperature (R)

2500

3000

3000

Burner: pressure ratio

1.0

0.995

0.995

Burner: efficiency

1.0

0.995

0.995

Turbine: stages

N/A

N/A

N/A

Turbine: efficiency

N/A

N/A

N/A

Nozzle: max temperature (R)

4500

4500

4500

1.0

0.995

0.995

0.975

1.5

1.5

Nozzle: efficiency
Nozzle: A7/A2
Engine size (ft2)
Material

Aerospace Engineering Activity 2.2.3 Engine Page !4

Spencer Miller
Aerospace A4
April 8, 2015
Inlet

Aluminum

Aluminum

Actively Cooled

N/A

N/A

N/A

Burner

Nickel Alloy

Ceramic

Ceramic

Turbine

N/A

N/A

N/A

Nozzle

Actively Cooled

Actively Cooled

Actively Cooled

1092.336

999.606

1273.817

6153/1092

6172/999

6172/1273

Section 1

900

900

4000

Section 2

2500

3000

3000

Section 3

4500

4500

4500

0.821

0.902

0.938

Compressor

Data
Average Weight
Trust to Weight ratio
Temperatures (R), if overheated

TSFC

Aerospace Engineering Activity 2.2.3 Engine Page !5