Performance analysis of a new precooled engine cycle based on the combined pre-compressor cooling with mass injection and heat exchanger

Abstract

Precooling is a highly effective strategy for enhancing the performance of turbine engines at high Mach numbers. To address the challenges of high flow resistance and significant mass in heat exchanger pre-compressor cooling (HEPCC), as well as the low heat exchange efficiency in mass injection pre-compressor cooling (MIPCC), this paper introduces a novel combined pre-compressor cooling (CPCC) system. This innovative approach integrates a mass injection device with a heat exchanger, aiming to enhance precooling performance by allowing the low-resistance mass injection device to share part of the heat load managed by the compact heat exchanger. To reveal the CPCC’s performance, an analysis model of the combined precooled engine cycle and a one-dimensional heat exchanger model have been developed. The dual-fuel scheme utilizing NH₃ and RP3, along with a suitable precooling layout for CPCC, has been evaluated and adopted. Simulations indicate that within a fuel ratio range of 0.5 to 2, the CPCC can enhance the maximum operating Mach number by 0.17 to 0.23 compared to the MIPCC. In comparison to the HEPCC, the CPCC’s specific thrust can increase by up to 28.66% under the height constraint of precooler, and by up to 15.91% under the weight constraint. Moreover, the CPCC achieves optimal performance when the fuel ratio reaches its acceptable maximum value. This research comprehensively evaluates the CPCC, highlighting its potential to significantly enhance engine performance at high Mach numbers.