Session: 01-12 Basics of Gas Turbine Engine Core

Paper Number: 83971

83971 - Basics of Gas Turbine Engine Core 

The core of any gas turbine engine consists of a compressor, combustor, and turbine.  In this tutorial, you will learn the basic what, why, and how of the gas turbine core primarily in the context of aircraft applications.  The stringent weight goals and demanding operating environment of the aircraft-engine system place unique challenges on the performance and operability of the gas turbine engine core.  You will leave this tutorial session with an improved understanding of and greater appreciation for the performance requirements and operating environment challenges associated with the gas turbine engine core components used for aircraft applications.  This tutorial of basics is perfect for anyone new to the gas turbine engine field or wishing to expand their basic knowledge of gas turbine engines used for aircraft applications.

Since this is a tutorial of basics, key learning objectives are very much on foundational understanding and include:

Explain the term compressor or turbine stage and why there are so many compressor stages in the core relative to turbine stages; Explain what variable stator vanes are and why they are commonly used; Trace the evolution of combustors and identify advantages and disadvantages; Explain why turbine blades and compressor blades look so different, Explain the trend of overall pressure ratio increasing in commercial aircraft applications.

Presenting Author: Keith Boyer Practical Aeronautics

Presenting Author Biography: Keith Boyer is the Vice-President for Propulsion for Practical Aeronautics. He retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 2012 after serving as Associate Dean for Students at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He started his Air Force career in 1979 as an enlisted electronic warfare maintainer on B-52 aircraft and instructor. He has over 40 years of aircraft-engine experience which includes maintenance & sustainment at the flight line, intermediate and depot levels, research & development, test and analysis, systems engineering, sustainment, logistics & supply chain management, and multinational requirements management. Keith taught for ten years in the Air Force Academy’s Department of Aeronautics and served in numerous leadership positions. For seven years, he was adjunct faculty to the Air Force Test Pilot School, where he twice earned the Flight Test Instructor of the Quarter award.

Authors:

Keith Boyer Practical Aeronautics
Kenneth Van Treuren Baylor University