RCAIDE.Library.Methods.Powertrain.Propulsors.Turboprop.compute_thrust

compute_thrust#

compute_thrust(turboprop, conditions)[source]#

Computes thrust and other performance metrics for a turboprop engine.

Parameters:
  • turboprop (RCAIDE.Library.Components.Propulsors.Turboprop) –

    Turboprop engine component with the following attributes:
    • tagstr

      Identifier for the turboprop

    • compressorData

      Compressor component

    • combustorData
      Combustor component
      • turbine_inlet_temperaturefloat

        Combustor exit/turbine inlet temperature [K]

      • fuel_dataData
        Fuel properties
        • lower_heating_valuefloat

          Fuel lower heating value [J/kg]

    • high_pressure_turbineData

      High pressure turbine component

    • low_pressure_turbineData
      Low pressure turbine component
      • mechanical_efficiencyfloat

        Mechanical efficiency of the turbine

    • core_nozzleData

      Core nozzle component

    • propeller_efficiencyfloat

      Efficiency of the propeller

    • gearboxData
      Gearbox component
      • efficiencyfloat

        Gearbox efficiency

    • reference_temperaturefloat

      Reference temperature for mass flow scaling [K]

    • reference_pressurefloat

      Reference pressure for mass flow scaling [Pa]

    • compressor_nondimensional_massflowfloat

      Non-dimensional mass flow parameter [kg·√K/(s·Pa)]

  • conditions (RCAIDE.Framework.Mission.Common.Conditions) –

    Flight conditions with:
    • freestreamData
      Freestream properties
      • gravitynumpy.ndarray

        Gravitational acceleration [m/s²]

      • temperaturenumpy.ndarray

        Freestream temperature [K]

      • pressurenumpy.ndarray

        Freestream pressure [Pa]

      • mach_numbernumpy.ndarray

        Freestream Mach number

      • speed_of_soundnumpy.ndarray

        Speed of sound [m/s]

    • energyData
      Energy conditions
      • propulsors[turboprop.tag]Data
        Turboprop-specific conditions
        • throttlenumpy.ndarray

          Throttle setting [0-1]

        • total_temperature_referencenumpy.ndarray

          Reference total temperature [K]

        • total_pressure_referencenumpy.ndarray

          Reference total pressure [Pa]

      • convertersdict

        Converter energy conditions indexed by tag

Returns:

Results are stored in conditions.energy.propulsors[turboprop.tag]:
  • thrustnumpy.ndarray

    Thrust force [N]

  • thrust_specific_fuel_consumptionnumpy.ndarray

    Thrust specific fuel consumption [kg/(N·hr)]

  • non_dimensional_thrustnumpy.ndarray

    Non-dimensional thrust

  • core_mass_flow_ratenumpy.ndarray

    Core mass flow rate [kg/s]

  • fuel_flow_ratenumpy.ndarray

    Fuel flow rate [kg/s]

  • powernumpy.ndarray

    Shaft power output [W]

  • specific_powernumpy.ndarray

    Specific power [W·s/kg]

  • power_specific_fuel_consumptionnumpy.ndarray

    Power specific fuel consumption [kg/(W·hr)]

  • thermal_efficiencynumpy.ndarray

    Thermal efficiency

  • propulsive_efficiencynumpy.ndarray

    Propulsive efficiency

Return type:

None

Notes

This function implements a thermodynamic model for a turboprop engine to calculate thrust, fuel consumption, and efficiencies. It uses the outputs from each component in the engine cycle to determine overall performance.

Major Assumptions
  • Perfect gas behavior

  • Constant component efficiencies

  • Propeller efficiency is constant

Theory The turboprop performance is calculated using gas turbine cycle analysis. The thrust is determined by the power output of the low pressure turbine, the propeller efficiency, and the core exhaust momentum.

The specific thrust is calculated as:

\[F_{sp} = \frac{W_{total} \cdot c_p \cdot T_0}{V_0}\]
where:
  • \(W_{total}\) is the total work output coefficient

  • \(c_p\) is the specific heat at constant pressure

  • \(T_0\) is the freestream temperature

  • \(V_0\) is the freestream velocity

References

[1] Mattingly, J.D., “Elements of Gas Turbine Propulsion”, AIAA Education Series, 1996.