Aeronautical Techniques Engineering Assist lecturer: Ali H.

Mutib
Aircraft Engines 3rd Class

Turbo-shaft Engine
3.1Introduction:-
A turbo-shaft engine is a form of gas turbine which is optimized to produce shaft power
rather than jet thrust. Generally, a turbo-shaft engine is made up of two major parts
assemblies:
1. The Gas Generator: - Consists of one or more compressors, combustion chamber, and
one or more turbines.
2. The Power Section: - The power section consists of an additional turbine, a gear
reduction system, and the shaft output.

The gas generator creates the hot expanding gases to drive the power section. Depending
on the design, the engine accessories may be driven either by the gas generator or by the
power section. In most designs, the gas generator and power section are mechanically
separate so they can each rotate at different speeds.
Turbo-shaft engines are similar to turboprops, they differs primarily in:-
1. The hot gases are expanded to a lower pressure in the turbine, thus providing greater
shaft power and little exhaust velocity.
2. The function of the turbine, Instead of driving a propeller, the turbine is connected to a
transmission system that drives helicopter rotors

A- Compressor E – Exhaust
B- Combustion chamber
C- Turbine F – Gear reduction system
D- Free power turbine

Figure (3-1): Turbo-shaft Engine components

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Aeronautical Techniques Engineering Assist lecturer: Ali H. Mutib
Aircraft Engines 3rd Class

3.2 Thermodynamic Analysis of Turbo-shaft Engines.

A turbo-shaft engine also has two configurations:

1- When the load is driven by the same gas generator shaft “a single-spool
engine”(Fig. 3.2)
2- When the load is driven by the free power turbine “a two-spool” (Fig. 3.3).

Thermodynamic cycles are plotted on the temperature–entropy (T-s) diagram for single
and double spools are shown in Figs. 3.4 and 3.5. It is noted that the hot gases expand in
the gas turbine (single spool) or free turbine (double spool) to nearly the ambient
pressure. This provides a greater shaft power and little exhaust velocity.

Figure (3-2): Single-spool turbo-shaft engine

Figure (3-3): Two-spool turbo-shaft engine

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Aeronautical Techniques Engineering Assist lecturer: Ali H. Mutib
Aircraft Engines 3rd Class

3.3 Power Generated by Turbo-shaft Engines.

3.3.1 Single-Spool Turbo-shaft.

From Fig. 3.4, the analysis of diffuser, compressor, and combustion chamber is typical to
that in turboprop engine.

Figure (3-4): T-s diagram for a single-spool turbo-shaft

Turbine

The turbine drives both of the compressor and load. Assuming full expansion in turbine
to the ambient pressure, then the specific power delivered to the output shaft (Wshaft) is
expressed as
( ) ( )

Where f, b is the fuel-to-air ratio and bleed ratio. The mechanical efficiencies for turbine
and compressor are, respectively, ηmt, ηmc.

This shaft which drives the load (here the rotor of a helicopter) experiences some
mechanical losses due to friction in gearbox and bearings, thus
( )

̇ ( )
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Aeronautical Techniques Engineering Assist lecturer: Ali H. Mutib
Aircraft Engines 3rd Class

3.3.2 Double-Spool Turbo-shaft.

The diffuser, compressor, and combustion chamber also will be treated as in turboprop
sections.

Figure (3-5): T-s diagram for a Double-spool turbo-shaft

Gas generator turbine

The turbine provides sufficient energy to drive the compressor; thus, the outlet
temperature is obtained from the energy balance between the compressor and turbine, or

( ) ( )

( )
( )
( )

And

[ ( )] ( )

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Aeronautical Techniques Engineering Assist lecturer: Ali H. Mutib
Aircraft Engines 3rd Class

Free power turbine

The gases are assumed to have a complete expansion to the ambient pressure; thus, the
power delivered to the load is

̇ ( ) [ ( ) ] ( )

Example -1-
Kamov Ka-50 “Black Shark” is a single-seat Russian attack helicopter. It is powered by
two Klimov TV3-117 turbo shaft engines. TV3-117 is a two-spool turbo shaft engine
having the following characteristics:

• Maximum power output: 1640 kW

• Turbine inlet temperature: 99° C
• Cruise speed: 270 km/h
• Service ceiling: 5500 m
• Compressor pressure ratio: 9.4
• Fuel heating value: 44 MJ/kg
• Pressure drop in combustion: 2 %
• Modules efficiencies: ηd = 0.92, ηc = 0.84, ηb = 0.98, ηgt = ηpt = 0.88, ηm = 0.99

Calculate
1. Air mass flow rate
2. Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC)

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Aeronautical Techniques Engineering Assist lecturer: Ali H. Mutib
Aircraft Engines 3rd Class

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Aeronautical Techniques Engineering Assist lecturer: Ali H. Mutib
Aircraft Engines 3rd Class