2/15/13 Burner Thermodynamics

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Most modern passenger and military aircraft are powered by gas turbine engines, which are also called jet engines. There
are several different types of jet engines, but all jet engines have some partsin common. All jet engines have a combustor or
burner in which the air and fuel are mixed and burned. The burning occurs at a higher pressure than free stream because of
the action of the compressor. The pressure in the burner remains nearly constant during burning, decreasing by only 1 to 2
per cent. Using our station numbering, the burner pressure ratio BPR is equal to pt4 divided by pt3 and is nearly equal to
one:

BPR = pt4 / pt3 = 1.0

As opposed to the compressor and power turbine, we cannot simply relate the total temperature ratio in the burner to the
total pressure ratio because the physical processes are different. In the compressor and turbine, no heat enters the domain.
Under those adiabatic conditions the pressure ratio and temperature ratio are related. In the burner, heat is released in the
combustion process, and the energy equation must be used to determine the temperature change. The energy equation is
given by:

(1 + f) * ht4 = ht3 + f * nb * Q

where ht is the specific total enthalpy, f is the fuel to air mass flow ratio, Q is the heat release, and nb is an efficiency
factor. The heat release Q depends on the particular fuel that is being burned and is determined experimentally. An
efficiency factor is applied, as well, to account for losses during burning. The enthalpy is equal to the specific heat
coefficient at constant pressure cp times the temperature which leads to:

(1 + f) * cp * Tt4 = cp * Tt3 + f * nb * Q
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2/15/13 Burner Thermodynamics
(1 + f) * cp * Tt4 = cp * Tt3 + f * nb * Q

With a little algebra, this energy equation can be solved for the temperature ratio across the burner:

Tt4 / Tt3 = (1 + f * nb * Q / (cp * Tt3) ) / ( 1 + f)

The burner entrance temperature Tt3 is determined by the compressor and the external flow conditions. The fuel heating
value Q is a property of the particular fuel being used, and the specific heat coefficient cp is a known property of air. In
engine operation, we can set the fuel flow rate which determines a value for the fuel/air ratio f and sets the temperature ratio
in the burner. The burner temperature ratio and pressure ratio determine a value for the engine temperature ratio, ETR, and
engine pressure ratio, EPR, which in turn determine the theoretical engine thrust.

It would appear that we can make the temperature ratio and resulting thrust as large as we want by just increasing the fuel
flow rate and the fuel/air ratio. However, the details of the combustion process sets some limits on values of the fuel/air
ratio. And in engine operation, there is a maximum burner exit temperature Tt4 which is determined by material limits. If we
try to run the engine hotter than this maximum temperature, the burner and the turbine will be damaged. You can now use
EngineSim to study the effects of different materials on engine operation.

Activities:

Guided Tours

EngineSim - Engine Simulator:

Burner:
Calculating Fuel Flow Rate:
Combustion:

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