3648. Engine Integration to Aircraft of Corporate Jets
$20.00
SAWE Members get a $200 store credit each year.*
*Store credit coupon available at checkout, click the button in your shopping cart to apply the coupon.
Not applicable to SAWE textbooks and current conference technical papers.
Paper
Abstract
Engine selection is a crucial part of the preliminary design of the aircraft development to meet the aircraft mission. While significant efforts are focused on the engine characteristics, it is critical not to ignore the impact of the engine integration to the aircraft. Before making the final selection, it is important to evaluate the impact of the individual engine components on the overall aircraft weight and center of gravity (CG) beyond the engine itself.
The engine’s main components; fan, compressor, combustor, turbine and nozzle; as developed by different engine manufacturers; typically share a similar architecture from engine to engine. By analyzing the impact of each component on several engine manufacturer proposals on various programs, it was observed that the compressor and the fan have significant impact on the aircraft integration. The compressor design has a large influence on the total engine performance as well as aircraft structure and systems.
This paper focuses on the engine integration to the aircraft and discusses the importance of evaluating the bleed air extracted at various stages of the compressor where manufacturer’s provisions for low and high pressure bleed are commonly offered. In most cases, the manufacturers propose an engine solution based on existing design or developed from an existing design. The engine bleed air pressure and temperature impact the Environmental Control System (ECS) and the Cabin Pressurization Control System (CPCS), the higher the pressure and temperature of the extracted air, the bigger and heavier the associated precooler, ducts, and valves; which in turn increase the overall weight of the aircraft. Moreover, for aft engine mounted aircraft; the additional weight will shift the CG further aft.
Weight estimates, based on different manufacturers’ design of compressor bleed air extraction stages and fan pressure, should be incorporated in the suppliers’ scorecard to ensure that the weight impact driven by the engine integration on the ECS, CPCS, and the airframe structure is within the weight limit, and minimized. If the weight projection exceeds the preliminary estimated weight, it should be immediately acknowledged as a potential problem to avoid a significant weight penalty and a compromised performance later in the program.
