PERFORMANCE OF JET ENGINES

Thrust power of a jet engine, also known as propulsive power, is a measure of the engine's
ability to do work and propel an aircraft forward. Every aircraft will have weight and when it
moves forward, it has certain degree of resistance for the movement due to the drag caused
by air. So depending on the type of aircraft, the weight and drag of the aircraft will change.
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)
A380 is the largest and heaviest passenger aircraft in the world.
The Lufthansa A380 seats 509 passengers and its four Rolls-Royce engines each generate
311kN of thrust (4 Engines).
A380: 5, 60, 000Kg or 560 metric tons or just 560 Tons
Boeing 787-8: 227,930 kilograms or 227.93 metric tons
Boeing 787-10: 254,011 kilograms or 254.01 metric tons

Thrust power talks about how much power the aircraft produces to overcome the drag of the
aircraft and then move forward. It is the power usefully expended on generating thrust after
overcoming drag i.e., it is the power that is generated after overcoming the drag and weight
of the engine. The efficiency of the engine and the drag forces acting on the aircraft also play
crucial roles in determining the overall performance and fuel efficiency of the aircraft. It is
the total power required to make the aircraft move forward after overcoming drag. It is the
product of the thrust produced by the engine and the velocity at which the aircraft is moving.
In simpler terms, thrust power can be defined by the following formula:
P=T⋅v
where:
 P is the thrust power (measured in watts, W).
 T is the thrust produced by the engine (measured in newtons, N).
 v is the velocity of the aircraft relative to the air (measured in meters per second, m/s).
Key Points:
1. Thrust (T): The force generated by the jet engine to push the aircraft forward. Thrust
is typically measured in newtons (N) or pounds-force (lbf).
2. Velocity (v): The speed of the aircraft in the direction of the thrust. This is usually the
speed of the aircraft relative to the air around it, measured in meters per second (m/s).
Example Calculation:
Assume a jet engine produces a thrust of 100,000 N and the aircraft is flying at a speed of 250
m/s. The thrust power can be calculated as:
P=100,000 N×250 m/s=25,000,000 W
or
P=25 MW
where MW stands for megawatts.
Considerations:
 Thrust power is different from the power output of the jet engine's turbines, which is
typically measured in terms of shaft horsepower for engines that drive propellers.
 The efficiency of the engine and the drag forces acting on the aircraft also play crucial
roles in determining the overall performance and fuel efficiency of the aircraft.
Understanding thrust power is important for analyzing the performance of jet engines and the
aircraft they propel, providing insights into fuel efficiency, speed capabilities, and overall
aircraft performance.
The Maximum Zero Fuel Weight (MZFW) of the Airbus A380 is an important parameter in
aircraft operations. The MZFW is the maximum permissible weight of an aircraft with no
usable fuel. For the Airbus A380, the MZFW is as follows:
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight (MZFW): Approximately 875,000 pounds (396,900
kilograms or 396.9 metric tons).
This value represents the maximum weight of the aircraft including passengers, crew, cargo,
and the aircraft itself, but excluding any fuel. Understanding the MZFW is crucial for
ensuring the safe loading and balance of the aircraft, as well as for optimizing fuel efficiency
and range.

Take off lift of Airbus A380

Around 288-300kmph
LIFT-TO-WEIGHT RATIO
The lift-to-weight ratio of an aircraft is a measure of its ability to generate lift compared to its weight.
For an aircraft to take off, its lift must be equal to or greater than its weight. The lift-to-weight ratio
can be calculated by dividing the lift force by the weight of the aircraft.

Specific thrust
Specific thrust is a measure of the efficiency of a jet engine in terms of the thrust produced per unit of
airflow through the engine. It is defined as the thrust produced by the engine divided by the mass flow
rate of air through the engine. This metric is useful for comparing the performance of different jet
engines, particularly in terms of how effectively they convert incoming air into thrust.
This means that the engine with high specific thrust will consume high fuel flow rate to produce high
thrust for every 1kg of air flow rate. To keep the fuel economy high and fuel consumption low, the
specific thrust of commercial jet engines are kept slightly lower than the jet engines. This also
improves less noise from the engines.

Specific impulse (Isp)

Specific impulse (Isp) is a measure of the efficiency of a rocket or jet engine. It indicates how
effectively the engine uses propellant to produce thrust. Specifically, it represents the amount
of thrust produced per unit weight flow rate of the propellant.

Formula:
Specific impulse can be expressed in two common ways: in seconds or in meters per second
(when using the gravitational constant g0).

Interpretation:
 When expressed in seconds, specific impulse is a measure of how long one unit of
propellant weight can produce thrust. Higher values indicate greater efficiency.
  When expressed in meters per second, specific impulse is directly related to the
exhaust velocity of the propellant leaving the engine.

Importance:
 Specific impulse is a critical parameter in the design and performance assessment of
rockets and jet engines.
 Higher specific impulse means the engine can achieve higher thrust for the same
amount of propellant, making the vehicle more efficient and potentially increasing its
range or payload capacity.
 It allows for comparison between different propulsion systems and helps in selecting
the appropriate engine for a given mission profile.
Summary:
Specific impulse is a key efficiency metric for propulsion systems, with higher values
indicating more efficient use of propellant. It can be expressed in either seconds or meters per
second, reflecting the thrust produced per unit weight or mass flow rate of the propellant.
Specific fuel consumption (SFC) is a measure of the fuel efficiency of an engine, specifically
a jet engine. It is defined as the amount of fuel needed to produce a certain amount of thrust
or power over a specific period. There are two main types of SFC used for jet engines: thrust-
specific fuel consumption (TSFC) and power-specific fuel consumption (PSFC).

Thrust-Specific Fuel Consumption (TSFC):

TSFC measures the fuel efficiency of an engine in terms of thrust produced. It is commonly
used for jet engines and is defined as the fuel flow rate per unit of thrust.
Power-Specific Fuel Consumption (PSFC):
PSFC measures the fuel efficiency of an engine in terms of power produced. It is more
commonly used for turboprop and turboshaft engines and is defined as the fuel flow rate per
unit of power output.

Practical Considerations:
 Efficiency: Lower SFC values indicate better fuel efficiency.
 Operating Conditions: SFC can vary with engine operating conditions, including
altitude, speed, and throttle settings.
 Engine Type: Turbojet engines tend to have higher TSFC values compared to
turbofan engines, which are more efficient at converting fuel into thrust.
Summary:
Specific fuel consumption (SFC) is a critical measure of jet engine efficiency, with TSFC
focusing on thrust efficiency and PSFC on power efficiency. Understanding and optimizing
SFC helps in improving fuel economy, reducing operational costs, and minimizing
environmental impact.