Title: Energetic and exergetic performance assessment of a turboprop engine at various loads

Authors: Hakan Aydın; Onder Turan; Adnan Midilli; T. Hikmet Karakoc

Addresses: TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI), Eskisehir 26003, Turkey ' Faculty of Aeronautics and Aerospace Sciences, Anadolu University, TR-26470 Eskisehir, Turkey ' Faculty of Engineering, Advanced Energy Technologies, Energy Division, Mechanical Engineering Department, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, 53000, Turkey ' Faculty of Aeronautics and Aerospace Sciences, Anadolu University, TR-26470 Eskisehir, Turkey

Abstract: It is necessary to understand the mechanisms that have enabled improvements of performance parameters such as thermodynamics efficiencies, thrust or power, specific fuel consumption and specific power in aero engines, thus reducing environmental impact. In this study, a thermodynamic analysis of a turboprop engine is performed at full and partial load conditions. The maximum overall and exergy efficiencies of the turboprop are found to be 30.7 and 29.2%, respectively. The minimum specific fuel consumption and maximum shaft power are found to be 0.2704 kg (kWh)⁻¹ and 1948 shp at maximum load, respectively. More important, the optimum functional load conditions of the engine are observed at higher loads. The results from this study are expected to assist propeller aero-engine design work, where the first and second laws provide a more comprehensive assessment of performance, allowing the turboprop engine concept to be better tailored to specific types of regional transport aircraft.

Keywords: performance assessment; turboprop engines; exergy analysis; energy analysis; specific fuel consumption; shaft power; propulsion; thermodynamic analysis; full loads; partial loads; exergy efficiency; propeller aeroengines; engine design; regional transport aircraft.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2013.058107

International Journal of Exergy, 2013 Vol.13 No.4, pp.543 - 564

Received: 21 Dec 2012
Accepted: 15 Jan 2013
Published online: 08 Dec 2013 *

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