Showing posts with label
Engine Control and Monitoring.
Show all posts
Showing posts with label
Engine Control and Monitoring.
Show all posts
1. Introduction to Propulsion
- Propulsion provides the force to move an aircraft forward.
- Thrust is the forward force produced by an engine.
- Jet engines accelerate air to generate thrust.
- Piston engines produce power through combustion of fuel and air.
- Turbine engines are used on most modern aircraft.
- Newton’s third law explains jet propulsion: action and reaction.
- Propulsive efficiency measures how effectively thrust is used.
- Specific fuel consumption shows fuel used per thrust output.
- Turbofan engines have higher efficiency than turbojets.
- Propeller engines are more efficient at low speeds.
2. Gas Turbine Engine Principles
- A gas turbine engine works on the Brayton cycle.
- The main sections are intake, compressor, combustion, turbine, and
exhaust.
- Air enters the intake with minimal pressure loss.
- The compressor increases the air pressure.
- Combustion adds heat energy to the compressed air.
- The turbine extracts power from hot gases.
- The exhaust accelerates gases to produce thrust.
- The compressor and turbine are connected by a shaft.
- Airflow must be smooth and continuous for stable operation.
- Engine efficiency depends on pressure ratio and temperature.
3. Engine Types
- A turbojet produces thrust only from exhaust gases.
- A turbofan uses a fan to move extra air for more thrust.
- A turboprop drives a propeller through a reduction gearbox.
- A turboshaft powers helicopters and auxiliary equipment.
- A ramjet has no moving parts and works at high speeds.
- A pulsejet uses intermittent combustion for thrust.
- A rocket carries both fuel and oxidizer.
- Bypass ratio is the ratio of fan air to core air in a turbofan.
- High-bypass engines are quieter and more efficient.
- Low-bypass engines are used on faster aircraft.
4. Compressors
- Compressors increase air pressure before combustion.
- There are two main types: axial and centrifugal.
- Axial compressors use rotating and stationary blades.
- Centrifugal compressors use impellers and diffusers.
- Multi-stage compressors achieve higher pressure ratios.
- Bleed air is taken from compressor stages for aircraft systems.
- Surge is an unstable airflow condition in compressors.
- Stall occurs when air separates from compressor blades.
- Variable stator vanes help control airflow and prevent surge.
- Inter-stage bleed valves stabilize compressor operation.
5. Combustion Section
- The combustion chamber burns fuel with compressed air.
- The three types are can, annular, and can-annular.
- Fuel injectors spray fuel into the airflow.
- Igniters provide spark during engine start.
- Continuous combustion ensures constant thrust.
- Air cools the liner to prevent overheating.
- Combustion efficiency affects engine performance.
- Uneven burning can cause vibration and damage.
- Flameout is loss of combustion during operation.
- Relight systems restart combustion after flameout.
6. Turbine Section
- Turbines extract energy to drive the compressor and accessories.
- A turbine consists of rotors and stators.
- High-pressure turbine drives the compressor.
- Low-pressure turbine drives the fan or propeller.
- Turbine blades are made from high-temperature alloys.
- Cooling air flows through blade holes to reduce heat.
- Shrouds prevent gas leakage around blades.
- Blade creep occurs due to prolonged high temperature.
- Over-temperature can cause turbine failure.
- Turbine efficiency determines overall engine performance.
7. Exhaust and Thrust Reversers
- The exhaust nozzle accelerates gases to produce thrust.
- Convergent nozzles are used in subsonic engines.
- Convergent-divergent nozzles are used in supersonic engines.
- Afterburners increase thrust by burning extra fuel in exhaust.
- Thrust reversers help slow the aircraft after landing.
- Bucket, cascade, and clamshell are types of reversers.
- Thrust reversers operate hydraulically or pneumatically.
- Deploying reversers in flight is prohibited.
- Nozzle area affects exhaust velocity and efficiency.
- Exhaust temperature is monitored for engine health.
8. Engine Starting and Ignition
- Engine starting turns the compressor to begin airflow.
- Air turbine starters use compressed air to spin the engine.
- Electrical starters are common on small engines.
- Ignition systems provide spark for fuel ignition.
- There are two igniters for reliability.
- Ignition is used only during start and relight.
- High-energy igniters produce strong sparks.
- Dual ignition improves reliability and redundancy.
- Ignition exciters store energy for discharge.
- Starter cutout occurs when the engine is self-sustaining.
9. Engine Control and Monitoring
- FADEC means Full Authority Digital Engine Control.
- FADEC controls fuel flow and engine parameters automatically.
- It eliminates mechanical linkages in control systems.
- EPR (Engine Pressure Ratio) measures engine thrust.
- N1 and N2 represent rotational speeds of compressor spools.
- EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) indicates turbine temperature.
- Oil pressure and temperature are continuously monitored.
- Vibration sensors detect unbalance or bearing wear.
- Engine indicating systems use digital displays in modern aircraft.
- Over-speed protection prevents engine damage.
10. Fuel, Oil, and Fire Systems
- The fuel system delivers fuel from tanks to the combustion chamber.
- Fuel pumps supply pressurized fuel to the injectors.
- Filters remove contamination from the fuel.
- Fuel control units meter correct fuel flow.
- Oil systems lubricate and cool engine components.
- Scavenge pumps return oil to the tank.
- Chip detectors indicate metal particles in oil.
- Fire detection systems use loops or sensors.
- Fire extinguishing systems use halon or clean agent bottles.
- Regular inspection ensures reliable engine operation and safety.