Future Propulsion Systems and Energy Sources in Sustainable Aviation

Saeed Farokhi, Peter Belobaba, Jonathan Cooper, Allan Seabridge

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781119414995
• eBook ISBN: 9781119415053
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mechanical Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

A comprehensive review of the science and engineering behind future propulsion systems and energy sources in sustainable aviation

Future Propulsion Systems and Energy Sources in Sustainable Aviation is a comprehensive reference that offers a review of the science and engineering principles that underpin the concepts of propulsion systems and energy sources in sustainable air transportation. The author, a noted expert in the field, examines the impact of air transportation on the environment and reviews alternative jet fuels, hybrid-electric and nuclear propulsion and power. He also explores modern propulsion for transonic and supersonic-hypersonic aircraft and the impact of propulsion on aircraft design.

Climate change is the main driver for the new technology development in sustainable air transportation. The book contains critical review of gas turbine propulsion and aircraft aerodynamics; followed by an insightful presentation of the aviation impact on environment. Future fuels and energy sources are introduced in a separate chapter. Promising technologies in propulsion and energy sources are identified leading to pathways to sustainable aviation. To facilitate the utility of the subject, the book is accompanied by a website that contains illustrations, and equation files. This important book:

• Contains a comprehensive reference to the science and engineering behind propulsion and power in sustainable air transportation
• Examines the impact of air transportation on the environment
• Covers alternative jet fuels and hybrid-electric propulsion and power
• Discusses modern propulsion for transonic, supersonic and hypersonic aircraft
• Examines the impact of propulsion system integration on aircraft design

Written for engineers, graduate and senior undergraduate students in mechanical and aerospace engineering, Future Propulsion Systems and Energy Sources in Sustainable Aviation explores the future of aviation with a guide to sustainable air transportation that includes alternative jet fuels, hybrid-electric propulsion, all-electric and nuclear propulsion.

1
Aircraft Engines – A Review

1.1 Introduction

A brief review of aircraft gas turbine propulsion is presented in Chapter 1. Most topics are fundamental to undergraduate propulsion education and thus serve as a refresher before we embark on more advanced propulsion concepts. Aircraft Propulsion, 2nd edition, by the author, provides the bulk of the material presented in this review chapter.

1.2 Aerothermodynamics of Working Fluid

In gas turbine (GT) engines the working fluid is treated as perfect gas, often air, which behaves as continuum rather than individual molecules. The density of the gas, ρ, is a fluid property that is defined on the basis of continuum. The perfect gas law that relates the pressure, density, and the absolute temperature of the gas may be derived rigorously from the kinetic theory of gases. It is stated here without proof:

(1.1)

Where R is known as the gas constant, which is inversely proportional to the molecular mass of the gas, i.e.

(1.2a)

where

is the universal gas constant expressed in two systems of units:

(1.2b)

The thermodynamic relations for a perfect gas in terms of specific heats at constant pressure and volume are:

(1.3)

(1.4)

In aircraft engines, the specific heats at constant pressure and volume are often functions of gas temperature only:

(1.5)

The gas is then called thermally perfect gas. There is a simplifying assumption of constant specific heats, which is a valid approximation to gas behavior in a narrow temperature range. In this case,

(1.6)

The gas is referred to as calorically perfect gas.

The first law of thermodynamics is the statement of conservation of energy for a system of fixed mass, m, namely,

(1.7)

where the element of heat transferred to the system from the surrounding is considered positive and on a per‐unit‐mass basis is δq with a unit of energy/mass, e.g. J kg⁻¹. The element of work done by the gas on the surrounding is considered positive and per‐unit‐mass of the gas is depicted by δw. The net energy interaction with the system results in a change of energy of the system, which again on a per‐unit‐mass basis is referred to as de. The three terms of the first law of thermodynamics have dimensions of energy per mass, e.g. J ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations and Acronyms
• About the Companion Website
• 1 Aircraft Engines – A Review
• 2 Aircraft Aerodynamics – A Review
• 3 Understanding Aviation’s Impact on the Environment
• 4 Future Fuels and Energy Sources in Sustainable Aviation
• 5 Promising Technologies in Propulsion and Power
• 6 Pathways to Sustainable Aviation
• Index
• End User License Agreement