Module -3

Jet Propulsion cycles

and
their analysis
 Introduction
• Gas turbine cycles for jet propulsion differ
from shaft power cycles because if the fact
that the useful power output for jet
propulsion is produced, wholly or partially; as
a result of expansion of gas in a propelling
nozzle; wholly in turbojet engines and partially
in turbo prop engines.
• The second distinguishing feature is the need
to consider the effect of forward speed and
altitude on the performance of propulsion
engines.
• The principle of jet propulsion is obtained
from the application of Newton’s law's of
motion.
• Experience shows that only two types of fluids
are particularly suitable for jet propulsion.
• i) A heated and compressed atmospheric air.
• ii) Another class of jet propulsion engines use
a jet of gas produced by the chemical
reactions of fuel and oxidizer. The fuel-oxidant
mixture is called the propellant.
• From the above discussion it is clear that jet-
propulsion engines may be classified broadly
into two groups.
• i) air-breathing engines
• ii) rocket engines
Air breathing engines can be further classified as
follows:
• Reciprocating or propeller engines
• Gas turbine engines
Reciprocating or propeller engines
Direction of Movement Event (what happens)
• Inward (Down) -------- Intake
• Outward (Up)---------- Compression and Ignition
• Inward (Down)-------- Power
• Outward (Up)-------- Exhaust
 Gas turbine engines
Gas turbine engines can be classified into,
i) Ramjet engines
ii) Pulse jet engines
iii) Turbojet engines
iv) Turboprop engines
v) Turbofan engines.
The Ramjet Engine
Advantages of Ramjet Engine:
• Ramjet engine is very simple and does not have
any moving parts. It is very cheap to produce and
requires almost no maintenance.
• Due to the fact that a turbine is not used to drive
the mechanical compressor, the maximum
temperature which can be allowed in ramjet is
very high, about 2000°C as compared to about
900° C in turbojets. This allows a greater thrust to
be obtained by burning fuel at air –fuel ratio of
about 13:1,which gives higher temperatures.
• The specific fuel consumption is better than other
gas turbine power plants at high speed and high
altitudes.
Disadvantages of Ramjet engine:
• Since the compression of air is obtained by
virtue of its speed relative to the engine, the
take-off thrust is zero and it is not possible to
start a ramjet engine without an external
launching device.
• Very difficult to design a diffuser which will
give good pressure recovery over a wide range
of speeds.
• Due to high air speeds, the combustion
chamber requires flame holder to stabilize the
combustion.
 Pulse Jet Engine

First part of the cycle: air flows through the

intake (1), and is mixed with fuel (2).
Second part: the valve (3) is closed and
the ignited fuel-air mix (4) propels the craft.
Advantages of Pulse jet Engine:
• Simple device next to ramjet engine and it is
light in weight.
• Very small and occasional maintenance.
• It does not need a device for initial propulsion
like ramjet engine. This engine will create
more static thrust than the cruise thrust.
• It can run on almost any types of liquid fuels.
• This engine is relatively cheap.
• It can also operate on gaseous fuel with little
modifications.
Disadvantages of Pulse jet Engine:
• SFC is as high as that of ramjet engine.
• The biggest disadvantage is very short life of
flapper valves and high rate of fuel
consumption.
• Operating range is limited in altitude range.
• Lower propulsive efficiency than turbo jet
engines.
• Speed of the pulse jet is limited to a very
narrow range of about 650-800km/h, because
of the limitations in the aerodynamic design of
a diffuser.
 Turbojet

 Chemical energy is converted into mechanical energy

 100% Thrust produced by Nozzle
 Operating Mach No: 1 to 2
 Supersonic Aircraft (1 to 5)
CHARACTERISTICS OF A TURBOJET ENGINE

• Low thrust at low forward speeds

• Relatively high TSFC at low altitudes and speeds (fuel efficiency
of an engine design with respect to thrust )
• Lightest specific weight (weight per unit volume)
• Ability to take advantage of highest ram pressure
• Lowest frontal area and almost no ground clearance problem
Advantages of turbojet engine
 Ideal for long distance flight at higher speeds and altitudes
 Lower frontal area and shorter landing gear
 Lower weight per unit thrust at design speeds and altitude
 Pressure rise through inlet diffuser is significant
 Reheat can be employed for increased thrust

Disadvantages Of Turbojet Engine

 Take-off roll is longer requiring longer runway
 TSFC is comparatively higher at low speeds and altitudes
 Uneconomical on short distance flights
 Lower thrust and propulsive efficiency at lower speeds.
 Turboprop

 20 to 25% of Thrust produced by Nozzle

 75 to 80% of Thrust produced by Propeller
 Operating Mach No: 0.4 to 0.65
 Subsonic Aircraft (0.1 to 0.8)
CHARACTERISTICS OF A TURBOPROP ENGINE

• Very high propulsive efficiency at low airspeeds but with altitude

it falls off rapidly
• Most complicated design and heavier than turbojet
• Lowest TSFC
• Large frontal area, Longer landing gear for low wing airplanes
• Highly efficient thrust reversals

Thrust reverser systems are featured on many jet

aircraft to help slow down just after touch-down,
reducing wear on the brakes and enabling shorter
landing distances
Advantages of turboprop engine
 Higher thrust at low speeds
 Take off roll is short
 Propulsive efficiency within operational range is high
 Specific fuel consumption is low
 Thrust reversal is easily achieved

Disadvantages of Turboprop Engine

 Application is limited to lower speeds and altitude
 Landing gears have to be longer
 Engine is heavier and complicated
 Usually centrifugal compressors are used which increases the frontal
area
 Higher weight per unit thrust
 Efficiencies
• Thermal Efficiency for Turbo jet engine = Propulsive
power/ (Fuel flow rate* Calorific value of fuel)

• Thermal Efficiency for Propeller engine = Brake

power/ (Fuel flow rate* Calorific value of fuel)

• Propeller Efficiency = Thrust power/ Shaft Power

• Propulsive efficiency = Thrust power/Propulsive

Power
• Transmission efficiency = Output of
Transmission/Input of Transmission

• Over all Efficiency of a Propulsive system

=Useful Propulsive work/Chemical Energy
supplied

• i.e = Thermal efficiency*Transmission

efficiency*Propulsive efficiency