Airframe Systems

Hernán Amaya BEng. MSc. PhD.

Presentation Overview

• Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines.

Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
The main aircraft power plants provides:
• Thrust (primary power).
• Power the aircraft systems (secondary power).
• Systems power requirements vary with flight conditions.
• The magnitude and scheduling of power demand has effects on engine
performance which has to be considered both during operation and design.

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*Lawson, C.P, Airframe Systems Short Course Notes, 2011.
Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance
Engine performance is a large and complex subject. Thus, only key aspects of the
systems power off-takes on engines will be considered. These being the engine
compressor operating characteristics, the turbine entry temperature (TET), and the
accessory gearbox.
Power Off-Takes:
• Compressor and Turbine (bleed air):
• Pneumatic power generation.
• ECS & IPS
• Accessory gearbox (shaft power from compressor & turbine):
• Hydraulic power generation.
• Electrical power generation.
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Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance - Effects

The extraction of systems power from the aircraft

engines, has consequences for engine performance:
• Compressor operating characteristics.
• Turbine Entry Temperature.
• Specific Fuel Consumption.
• Thrust.
• Windmilling.

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Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance - Compressor
• Is the most sensitive part of the engine to change in operating conditions.
• A plot showing the Pressure Ratio (PR) variation across the compressor vs. the mass
flow rate through the compressor is used to consider the operating characteristics of a
compressor (compressor map).

4
*Lawson, C.P, Airframe Systems Short Course Notes, 2011.
Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance – Compressor Effects

Bleed air:
• The power transferred to the turbine falls. 𝑃𝑡 ↓
• The power available to drive the compressor falls.
𝑆𝑃𝑐 ↓
• Lower pressure ratio across the compressor stage.
PR ↓
• Compressor running line shift down. RL ↓
Shaft power:
• More work is extracted from the turbine. 𝑃𝑡 ↑= 𝑆𝑃𝑐 ↑
• Pressure ratio across the compressor stage
increases. PR ↑
• Compressor running line move upwards. RL ↑

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*Lawson, C.P, Airframe Systems Short Course Notes, 2011.
Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance - Turbine
As the flow leaves the combustion chamber and
then enters the first turbine stage, the gases are
then at their hottest. The temperature of these
gases is known as the Turbine Entry
Temperature (TET).
• Power is limited by the maximum
temperature accepted by the
engine.
• This temperature must be limited
by the material properties and
cooling tolerances of the turbine
blades and surrounding
components.
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*Lawson, C.P, Airframe Systems Short Course Notes, 2011.
Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance – Turbine Effects

Bleed air taken from the compressor outlet:

• The compressor outlet pressure drops. 𝑝𝑐 ↓
• If the pressure ratio is large, then a small drop in
work is cause, TET rises. 𝑃𝑅𝑙 = 𝑤 ↓𝑠 = 𝑇𝐸𝑇 ↑
• If the pressure ratio is small, then a high drop in
work results, TET drops. 𝑃𝑅𝑠 = 𝑤 ↓𝑙 = 𝑇𝐸𝑇 ↓
Shaft power:
• The engine has to deliver extra work at a given
speed. 𝐸𝑛𝑔 ↑
• Higher Turbine Entry Temperature is required. TET ↑
• The minimum idling speed and the TET vs. rotor
speed curve moves up.

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*Lawson, C.P, Airframe Systems Short Course Notes, 2011.
Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance – Fuel Effects

The primary purpose of the jet engine is

of course, to provide thrust. When
secondary (systems) power is also
required, the engine will have to burn
fuel at a higher rate in order to maintain
the desired level of thrust. Thus, the
specific fuel consumption (sfc), which is
the rate of fuel burned per unit thrust,
increases.

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*Lawson, C.P, Airframe Systems Short Course Notes, 2011.
Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance – Thrust Effects
Normally, the thrust level available from an
engine is not compromised by the extraction
of secondary power. However, there are
phases during flight where the thrust available
is reduced by the systems power off-takes.
These phases are of course, those that
demand the highest thrust from the engine,
such as maximum take-off or maximum climb
conditions. This is illustrated by the lines of
constant thrust. Therefore, off-takes reduce
the available total performance for a given
engine. This is a fact that must be considered
at the design stages.
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*Lawson, C.P, Airframe Systems Short Course Notes, 2011.
Systems Power Off-Takes on Engines
Engine Performance – Windmilling Effects

A failed engine may be needed

to windmill in order to provide
emergency power. The engine
may also be required to windmill
in order to enable relight.
Windmilling characteristics get
worse when shaft power is
extracted, this is particularly true
of high bypass ratio engines,
and of those with low pressure
ratio compressors.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxe4cQzUIY&t=35s
Thank You