AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Second Semester Examinations

2022

Aerospace Engineering (BEng/MEng) Yr 2

Mechanical Engineering (BEng/MEng) Yr 2

AERO213: Aeroengines

Time Allowed: THREE HOURS

Instructions to candidates:

Answer ALL five questions

All five questions carry equal marks (20 marks each)
Show all working in answers to numerical and mathematical questions

Data: See overleaf

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Gas and fuel properties

Unless otherwise instructed, use the following data for gas and fuel properties.

Ratio of specific heats for air: 𝛾𝑎 = 1.4

Specific heat of air at constant pressure: 𝑐𝑝𝑎 = 1004.5 𝐽/(𝑘𝑔 𝐾)

Specific gas constant for air 𝑅 = 287 𝐽/(𝑘𝑔 𝐾)

For the combustion products: 𝛾𝑝 = 1.33 and 𝑐̄𝑝𝑝 = 1140 𝐽/(𝑘𝑔 𝐾)

The Lower Calorific Value of conventional hydrocarbon aviation fuel: 𝑄𝐿𝐶𝑉 = 45000 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Equation summary

Ideal gas equation 𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇

Mass flow rate (𝑚̇) 𝑚̇ = 𝜌𝐴𝑉

Thrust (F) 𝐹 = (𝑚̇𝑎 + 𝑚̇𝑓 )𝑉𝑒 − 𝑚̇𝑎 𝑉𝑎 + 𝐴𝑒 (𝑝𝑒 − 𝑝𝑎 )

2𝑉𝑎
Propulsive efficiency (ηp) 𝜂𝑝 =
𝑉𝑎 +𝑉𝑒

̇
Δ𝐾𝐸
Thermal efficiency (ηth) 𝜂𝑡ℎ =
𝑚̇𝑓 𝑄𝐿𝐶𝑉

Gas constant (R) 𝑅 = 𝑐𝑝 − 𝑐𝑣

𝑐𝑝
Ratio of specific heats (𝛾) 𝛾=
𝑐𝑣

Steady flow energy equation 𝑄̇ + 𝑃 = 𝑚̇∆ℎ0

𝛾
𝑇 𝛾−1 𝑝2 𝑝
Isentropic condition (𝑇2 ) =
𝑝1
or
𝜌𝛾
= 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡
1

𝑉
Mach number (M) 𝑀=
𝑎

Speed of sound (a) 𝑎 = √𝛾𝑅𝑇

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Δℎ𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟
Degree of reaction (Λ) Λ=
Δℎ𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒

Combustion equation
𝑐𝑝𝑎 𝑚̇𝑎 (𝑇03 − 298) + 𝑐𝑝𝑓 𝑚̇𝑓 (𝑇0𝑓 − 298) + 𝑚̇𝑓 𝜂𝑏 𝑄𝐿𝐶𝑉 = (𝑚̇𝑎 + 𝑚̇𝑓 )𝑐𝑝𝑝 (𝑇04 − 298)
Energy balance between compressor and turbine
𝑐𝑝𝑎 𝑚̇𝑎 (𝑇03 − 𝑇02 ) = 𝜂𝑚 (𝑚̇𝑎 + 𝑚̇𝑓 )𝑐𝑝𝑝 (𝑇04 − 𝑇05 )
1
Mach cone angle (𝜇) 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜇 =
𝑀
𝛾
𝑝𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡 2 𝛾−1
Critical pressure ratio in a choked nozzle =( )
𝑝0 𝛾+1

1
𝛾+1 2
𝛾 2 𝛾−1 𝐴𝑝0
Mass flow rate for choked flow 𝑚̇ = [ ( ) ]
𝑅 𝛾+1 √𝑇0

Where A = area, p = pressure, p0 = stagnation pressure, P = power, 𝑄̇ = heat transfer rate, R =

specific gas constant, T = temperature, T0 = stagnation temperature, V = velocity, 𝜂𝑏 = burner
efficiency, 𝜂𝑀 = mechanical transmission efficiency of the shaft and 𝜌 =density, h=enthalpy and
KE=kinetic energy.

Subscripts: a = air, f = fuel, t = throat and e = exit.

Isentropic efficiencies

T’ denotes the isentropic temperature

′ −𝑇
𝑇02 ′ −𝑇
𝑇03
𝑎 02
Diffuser (𝜂𝑑 ): 𝜂𝑑 = Compressor (𝜂𝑐 ): 𝜂𝑐 =
𝑇02 −𝑇𝑎 𝑇03 −𝑇02

𝑇04 −𝑇05 𝑇05 −𝑇𝑒

Turbine (𝜂𝑡 ): 𝜂𝑡 = ′ Nozzle (𝜂𝑛 ): 𝜂𝑛 =
𝑇04 −𝑇05 𝑇05 −𝑇𝑒′

Normal Shock Relations

Subscript 1 refers to conditions before the shock and 2 to conditions after the shock.

𝛾−1 𝛾−1
𝑝2 1+𝛾𝑀12 𝑇2 1+ 2 𝑀12 1+( 2 )𝑀12 𝜌2 (𝛾+1)𝑀12
= = 𝛾−1 𝑀22 = 𝛾−1 =
𝑝1 1+𝛾𝑀22 𝑇1 1+ 2 𝑀22 𝛾𝑀12 −( 2 ) 𝜌1 2+(𝛾−1)𝑀12

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Q1. Multiple choice

Write down one answer for each question in the answer booklet. Incorrect answers are not
negatively marked.

i. When calculating the torque of an axial flow turbomachine, which is the correct air velocity
to use?
A. Absolute velocity
B. Relative velocity
C. Tangential velocity
D. Axial velocity
[2 marks]

ii. After landing a large civil airliner the pilot will likely deploy…
A. The hot thrust reversers
B. The cold thrust reversers
C. Both sets of thrust reversers
D. No thrust reversers
[2 marks]

iii. A common cause of compressor surge is thought to be which of the following?

A. High temperature in the compressor
B. The flame in the combustion chamber being extinguished
C. Aerodynamic stalling of the compressor blades
D. Axial velocity in the compressor being high
[2 marks]

iv. The quantity √𝑅𝑇 (where R is gas constant and T is temperature) has the same dimensions
as?
A. Pressure
B. Velocity
C. Density
D. Energy
[2 marks]

v. Which of the following processes will not change the speed of sound of a gas?
A. Expansion
B. Compression
C. Combustion
D. None, i.e. they all change the speed of sound
[2 marks]

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

vi. In a modern large turbofan engine, the melting point of the material used for the nozzle
guide vane of the high-pressure turbine is most likely to be…
A. Lower than the temperature of the gas exiting the combustion chamber
B. Higher than the temperature of the gas exiting the combustion chamber
C. Similar to the temperature of the gas exiting the high-pressure compressor
D. Higher than any gas temperature in the whole engine
[2 marks]

vii. Which of the following processes does not involve energy being transferred into or out of
the gas?
A. High speed gas flow through a compressor
B. High speed gas flow through a turbine
C. High speed gas flow through a nozzle
D. Combustion
[2 marks]

viii. Across which part of an axial compressor stage is there likely to be a higher pressure rise?
A. The rotor
B. The stator
C. Neither, it’s always split evenly
D. Could be either, it depends entirely on the individual engine design
[2 marks]

ix. Through which of the following components is stagnation temperature not constant?
A. The bypass duct
B. The exit nozzle
C. The turbine nozzle guide vane
D. The compressor rotor
[2 marks]

x. Considering the exit of a turbine in an aeroengine: which of the following statements is

true?
A. The real (actual) temperature will be higher than the ideal (isentropic) temperature
B. The real (actual) temperature will be lower than the ideal (isentropic) temperature
C. The real (actual) temperature will be equal to the ideal (isentropic) temperature
D. It depends on the design of the turbine
[2 marks]

[Q1 = 20 marks]

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Q2.
(a) Gas (air) at a pressure of 7.1bar and a temperature of 295oC enters the stator of an axial flow
compressor of constant mean diameter 1.5m. The mass flow rate is 340kg/s. The height of the
stator blades at inlet is 100mm. The absolute flow angle at mid-blade height, measured with
respect to the tangential direction, is 35o at inlet. The density of the air at the exit of the stator is
4.57kg/m3. The flow can be assumed to be isentropic.

i. Sketch the velocity triangle at stator inlet.

[2 marks]

ii. Calculate the axial, tangential and absolute air velocity at inlet to the stator.
[4 marks]

iii. Calculate the stagnation temperature at the exit of the stator.

[1 marks]

iv. Calculate the static temperature at the exit of the stator.

[2 marks]

v. Hence, calculate the absolute air velocity at the exit of the stator.
[1 marks]

(b) The Power (P) of a turbine depends upon the inlet stagnation air pressure p01 and temperature T01,
the air mass flow rate 𝑚̇, the rotor diameter D, the rotation speed N, the gas constant for air R and
the ratio of specific heats for air .

i. State the units and dimensions of the eight physical quantities mentioned above.
[3 marks]

ii. Use Buckingham’s Pi theorem to find how many independent non-dimensional groups can
be formed from the physical quantities in (i).
[1 mark]

iii. Using the method of sequential elimination of dimensions, find the non-dimensional
groups according to (ii).
[6 marks]

[Total Q2 = 20 marks]

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Q3.

A turbojet engine propelling an aircraft in cruise conditions at a Mach number 0.8 has a pressure ratio of 35
(i.e. p03 / p02 using the numbering system given below) and a turbine entry temperature of 1850K (i.e. T04). The
ambient pressure and temperature are 28kPa and 225K. There are no mechanical transmission losses along
the shaft that connects the compressor and the turbine. There is a 4% pressure loss across the burner. The
fuel-to-air ratio is 0.03. The nozzle exit pressure is equal to ambient pressure.

The component efficiencies are:

Station Component Efficiency

a-02 Intake 𝜂𝑑 = 0.96

02-03 Compressor 𝜂𝑐 = 0.93

03-04 Burner 𝜂𝑏 = 0.99

04-05 Turbine 𝜂𝑡 = 0.95

05-e Nozzle 𝜂𝑛 = 0.97

Assuming all the flow processes are adiabatic, calculate:

(a) The stagnation temperature just before the compressor 𝑇02

[2 marks]
(b) The stagnation pressure just before the compressor 𝑝02
[3 marks]
(c) The stagnation temperature just after the compressor 𝑇03
[3 marks]
(d) The stagnation temperature just after the turbine 𝑇05
[3 marks]
(e) Calculate the stagnation pressure just after the turbine 𝑝05
[4 marks]
(f) Calculate the static temperature at exit 𝑇𝑒
[3 marks]
(g) Calculate the velocity of exhaust gases 𝑉𝑒
[2 marks]

[Total Q3 = 20 marks]

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Q4.

(a) A convergent-divergent nozzle is located at the exit of an engine. A normal shock is present in the
divergent part of the nozzle, i.e. between the throat and nozzle exit. The flow just upstream of the
normal shock wave has a Mach number of 2.4 and the stagnation pressure in the isentropic part of
the flow is 120kPa.

i. Determine the Mach number and static pressure just downstream of the shock wave.
[6 marks]

ii. Calculate the drop in stagnation pressure caused by the shockwave.

[3 marks]

iii. State three (out of five possible) equations that are used to derive the expression for the static
pressure ratio across a normal shockwave, and also state the main assumption used in order
to derive this expression.
[4 marks]

(b) A compressor delivers compressed air to the combustion chamber of an aeroengine at a rate of
210kg/s. The stagnation temperature of the gas entering the combustion chamber is 550oC. If the
burner is 97% efficient, calculate the mass flow rate of fuel required to produce a stagnation
temperature at entry to the turbine of 1650oC. State any assumptions that you have made.
[7 marks]

[Total Q4 = 20 marks]

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AERO213 School of Engineering Dr David JC Dennis

Q5.

A single stage axial gas turbine has the following specification:

Mass flow rate = 30 kg/s

Pressure ratio across stage = 3.5
Rotational speed = 8200 rpm
Inlet temperature = 1250 °C
Inlet hub diameter = 0.42 m
Inlet tip diameter = 0.58 m
Exit pressure = 2.5 bar

The turbine is designed to have a constant hub diameter and an increasing tip diameter. At the stator exit the
stator blade angle measured from the axial direction at blade mid-height is 60° and the tip diameter is 0.65m.

The flow enters and leaves the turbine with absolute velocity purely in the axial direction. The axial velocity is
constant throughout the turbine.

(a) Draw the velocity triangles at stator inlet, stator outlet/rotor inlet and rotor outlet at the mid-height of
the blade.
[3 marks]
(b) Determine the stator inlet and exit absolute velocities.
[3 marks]
(c) Calculate the rotor inlet relative velocity and relative flow angle.
[4 marks]
(d) Determine the power the turbine extracts from the flow using the Euler turbomachinery equation.
[2 marks]
(e) Use the steady flow energy equation to determine the static temperature at the exit of the turbine.
[2 marks]
(f) Calculate the blade height at the exit of the turbine.
[3 marks]
(g) Calculate the stage loading.
[3 marks]

[Total Q5 = 20 marks]

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