© Auld, 1998-2009 : www.aerodynamics4students.

com

Gas Turbine Analysis

Ideal Cycle

The simplest way to predict the behaviour of a gas turbine engine is to use an ideal one
dimensional gas dynamics/ thermodynamic analysis. Assuming the engine operates on an
ideal Brayton cycle, then the problem becomes one of tracking gas flow through an ideal
intake, isentropic compression, constant pressure combustion and finally isentropic
expansion through a turbine and nozzle.

Some simple assumptions are needed to allow for the calculations to proceed.

1. Isentropic intake and compression (no losses)

2. Constant pressure combustion. As the flow is relatively slow in the inlet to the combustion
chamber then it can be assumed that the pressure is roughly equal to the stagnation
pressure of the flow at this point. The stagnation temperature rise is based on the mass flow
rate of fuel injected and its calorific value, giving rise to an enthalpy change CpTo

3. The turbine provides all required energy to drive the compressor and/or fan.

4.Isentropic expansion through the exhaust nozzle back to surrounding ambient pressure.

5.
For a simple core only engine, the change in velocity of the exhaust gas compared to inlet
stream will be an ideal measure of the thrust generated.

T =ṁe V e −V ∞ 

where ṁe is the mass flow rate of air and fuel through the core of the engine.

When the engine is also driving a fan to produce cooler bypass flow then the total thrust can
be found by summing the momentum change to both bypass and core gas streams.

T =ṁe V e −V ∞  ṁ e V fan −V ∞ 

where  is the turbo fan by-pass ratio.

Gas Turbine Analysis Software

In the following application, the prediction of thrust for a typical commercial aircraft turbo-fan
engine can be investigated. To explore a range of operating conditions input values can be
set for

Stream Conditions :
● Altitude
● Flight Mach Number
Engine Conditions/Geometry :
● Compressor Pressure Ratio (CPR)
● Fan Pressure Ratio (FPR)
● Bypass Ratio
● Fuel-Air Ratio.

The application predicts thrust and specific fuel consumption based on these input
conditions. Note, the solution does not include any second order effects and does not check
whether the engine is operating within sensible physical limits.

Ideal Cycle Analysis for TurboFan

(MS Windows Application : Gasturbine 811kB)

For an overview on the operation of many types of aircraft engine

visit the Pratt & Whitney information pages.

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