Aerospace Propulsion

MEC 4280 / 4740

Semester I
2009/2010

Introduction

Lecture (1)

Aerospace Propulsion (MEC 4280/4740) 1

Dr. Raed Kafafy
Course Outline
Instructor
Dr. Raed Kafafy
Office hours: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
Office: E1-2-16.5

Class Schedule
Mon – Wed (8:30 AM – 9:50 AM)
Attendance will be taken every class

Course Website
Course notes and assignments on LMS

Aerospace Propulsion (MEC 4280/4740) 2

Dr. Raed Kafafy
Course Outline
Evaluation
Quizzes (4): 20%
Assignments (8): 10%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 40%

Midterm
TBD

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Course Outline
References
Required
1. Archer, R.D. and Saarlas, M. (1996). An Introduction to Aerospace
Propulsion, Prentice Hall Inc.
Recommended
1. J. D. Mattingly (2006). Elements of Propulsion: Gas Turbines and Rockets,
1st Edition, AIAA Education Series.
2. Hill, P. and Peterson, C., (1992). Mechanics and Thermodynamics of
Propulsion, 2nd Edition, Addison-Wesly Publishing Company, Inc.
3. Cohen, H., Rogers, G.F.C., and Saravanamuttoo, H.I.H., (1998). Gas Turbine
Theory, 4th Edition, Longman Ltd.
4. Mattingly, J.D., (1996). Elements of Gas Turbine Propulsion, McGraw-Hill.
5. Sutton, G. P. and Biblarz, O., (2000). Rocket Propulsion Elements, 7th
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
6. Turner, M.J.L., (2000). Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion: Principle, Practice
and New Developments, Springer & Praxis Publishing.
7. Others …

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Course Objectives

To understand the different types of propulsion systems

and their suitable applications.

To understand the basic principles behind the operation of

common propulsion systems.

To clearly understand the basic components and

performance of gas turbine jet engines.

To understand the basic elements of rocket propulsion.

To appreciate the environmental impact of aerospace

propulsion systems.

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to …
Explain how thrust is generated in air-breathing engines and rockets.
Perform thermodynamic analysis of aerospace propulsion cycles.
Analyze the overall performance of turbojets, turbofans and
turboprop engines.
Describe the different types of gas turbine components and their
functions.
Design and analyze a propeller preliminarily.
Analyze the performance of turbomachinery components of gas
turbine engines (fans, compressors, turbines).
Analyze the combustion system of gas turbine engines.
Describe the various types of liquid and solid propellant rockets and
their components.
Analyze the performance of liquid and solid propellant rockets.
Describe the environment impact of various aerospace propulsion
systems.

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
What is …
Propulsion?
In Latin, pro means forward and pellere means to drive.
In English, propulsion means to push or drive forward.

Aerospace Propulsion System?

A device which is used to produce thrust to drive an aerospace
vehicle (aircraft, missile, launch vehicle, or a spacecraft) in a
preferred direction.

Thrust
Thrust Drag

Thrust is needed to accelerate or sustain the

motion of an aerospace vehicle.

Weight
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The Principle of Jet Propulsion
Thrust?
The propulsive force which is generated as a reaction to the
change in the momentum of a working fluid (propellant).
A practical application of the third law of motion (Isaac
Newton, 1643–1727)
“For every force acting on a body there is an opposite and equal
reaction.”

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Airbreathing engines
Use air as an oxidizer as well as a working fluid.
Piston engines, Gas turbines, and Ramjets

Non-airbreathing engines
Carry on their own propellant (fuel and oxidizer) internally
Rockets

Airbreathing engines
Non-airbreathing engine
(rocket)

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Classification of Aerospace Propulsion

Use air as an oxidizer as well Carry on their own propellant

as a working fluid. (fuel and oxidizer) internally
Piston engines, Gas turbines, Rockets
and Ramjets

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Piston Engine
Powered the first successful flight of an aircraft in 1903
Dominated aircraft propulsion for 40 years
Complexity, limited power, and large weight
Usage limited to small aircraft

V-type engine Radial engine

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Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Classification of Piston Engines
Cooling method: air-cooled, liquid-cooled
Cylinders arrangement: inline-type, V-type, X-type, H-type,
radial-type, or opposed-type
Number of cylinders: 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, …
Mechanical cycle: two-stroke or four-stroke
Fuel type: gasoline, diesel, …
Other classifications

V-type engine Radial engine

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Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Gas Turbine
Aircraft gas turbine is adapted in many ways for aerospace
propulsion
It is also used for land and marine propulsion as well as
industrial applications

Classification of Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines

Turbojet
A gas turbine attached to a diffuser and a nozzle

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Turboprop
A propeller driven by a gas turbine which is also attached to a diffuser and a
nozzle

Turboshaft
A helicopter rotor is driven by a gas turbine through a reduction gear.

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Turbofan
A fan is driven by a gas turbine which is attached to a diffuser and a nozzle.
A separate nozzle may also attached to the fan.
A turbofan engine may be ducted or unducted (unducted fan).

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Ramjet
Supersonic flight where ram compression can replace
mechanical compression
Scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) and pulsejet

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
Classification of Aerospace Propulsion
Rockets
Used within or outside the atmosphere (an oxidizer should be carried
on)
Liquid propellant rockets: higher thrust, higher specific impulse,
restartable (booster stage)
Solid rockets: simpler in design (emergency thrust, missile propulsion,
…etc)

Classification of Rockets
Chemical Rockets
Solid-Propellant Rockets
Liquid-Propellant Rockets
Hybrid-Propellant Rockets
Non-chemical Rockets
Electric rockets
Nuclear rockets

Combined Types
Turbo compound piston engine, turboramjet, turborocket, ramjet-rocket

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
A Brief History of Propulsion
The Idea of Jet Propulsion
The credit goes to Hero who lived in Egypt about 150 B.C !

The Principle of Jet Propulsion

Third law of motion developed by Isaac Newton in the 17th
century !

Hero’s aeolipile

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
A Brief History of Propulsion
Rocket Engines
The Chinese, Mongols, Arabs, and Indians developed solid
rockets by trial and error (1100 – 1800).
The technology transferred to Europe then US between 1800
and 1900
Development of liquid propellant rocket in US and Germany
Space exploration programs in US, Russia, Japan, China, and
India, …etc
Development of non-chemical rockets

Fire-arrow

The V2 Rocket Atlantis Space Shuttle Saturn V

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
A Brief History of Propulsion
Reciprocating (Piston) Engines
Development of the internal-combustion engine during the 19th
century
Development of the four-stroke and two-stroke engines
(Germany)
The four-stroke gasoline engine (US and Germany)
The Wright brothers airplane engine in 1903 (US)
Development of aircraft piston engines during WW-I and before
WW-II

Radial engine Wrights’ engine

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Dr. Raed Kafafy
A Brief History of Propulsion
Gas Turbine Engines
The need for faster flight during WW-II
Development of the gas turbine (turbojet) engine by Frank
Whittle (1941) and von Ohain (1939)
Further development of the gas turbine into other types:
Turboprop, Turbofan, Turboshaft, Unducted fan, Very-high bypass turbofan,
Very-high bypass ducted propeller

Whittle engine Von Ohain engine

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Dr. Raed Kafafy