AE 6404 PROPUSION-I

QUESTION BANK

UNIT-1

1. Define Froude efficiency, what is its effect on thrust?

2. Compare air breathing engine and rocket engine.
3. Compare the net power available between the turbojet and turbo-shaft engines.
(R13_Dec16)
4. Define SFC.Write down its significance.
5. Mention the factors affecting thrust.
6. Find the propulsive efficiency of a jet engine moving with 300 m/s at 7000m altitude
and its exhaust gas velocity is 600 m/s.( (R13_Dec16)
7. Define by pass ratio.
8. Why rate of thrust for an air breathing engine decreases with altitude and increases for
non-air breathing engine?
9. Differentiate between Scramjet & Ramjet engine.
10. Differentiate between surging and stalling. (R13_Dec16)
11. Why is the ‘reverse diffuser’ impractical?
12. What are the advantages and disadvantages of cooling gas turbine blades?
13. Mention relative merits of jet engines over piston engines.

1. An advanced fighter engine operating at Mach 0.8 and 10Km altitude where, Ta=223.297K
& Pa=0.2649 bar has the following uninstalled performance data and uses a fuel with C.V=
42,800KJ/Kg:
Thrust = 50 KN
Mass flow of air = 45Kg/s
Mass flow of fuel = 2.65 Kg/s
Determine the specific thrust, thrust specific fuel consumption; exit velocity, thermal
efficiency, propulsion efficiency, and overall efficiency (assume exit pressure equal to
ambient pressure). 16

2. Find specific thrust and SFC of a simple turbojet engine, having the following component
performance at which the cruise speed and altitude are M 0.8 and 10000m. Select ambient
condition from the gas table.
Compressor pressure ratio 8.0
Turbine inlet temperature 1200K
Isentropic efficiency:
Of compressor ηc 0.87
Of turbine ηt 0.90
Of intake ηi 0.93
Of propelling nozzle ηj 0.95
Mechanical transmission efficiency ηm 0.99
Combustion efficiency ηb 0.98
Combustion chamber pressure loss ΔPb 4% of compressor outlet
pressure.

C.V of fuel is 43,000 KJ/Kg, assume data if necessary, Cpa ≠ Cpg 16

3. (a) Explain with neat sketch operating principles of turbofan engine 8

(b) What is thrust augmentation? Explain any two methods of thrust augmentation
with sketches. 8
4. Compare the characteristics, advantages & disadvantages of turbojet, turbofan and
turboprop engine.
5. (i)Discuss the different methods of thrust augmentation. Draw T-S diagram for
turbojet engine with thrust augmentation. 8
(ii) Discuss the typical turbojet cycle performance with suitable sketches. 8
6. A turbojet engine is traveling at 270 m/s at an altitude of 5000m. The compressor pressure
ratio is 8:1 and maximum cycle temperature is 1200K. By assuming the following data,
Ram efficiency 93%
Isentropic efficiency of compressor 87%
Pressure loss in combustion chamber 4% of compressor delivery pressure
Calorific value of fuel 43,100 kJ/kg
Combustion efficiency 98%
Mechanical transmission efficiency 99%
Isentropic efficiency of turbine 90%
Propelling nozzle efficiency 95%
Ambient conditions at 5000 m are 0.5405 bar and 255.7 K.
Calculate the (i) Specific thrust and (ii) TSFC 16
7. (i) Define thrust of an engine and derive the thrust equation for a general propulsion
system. 8
(ii) Discuss the typical turbojet cycle performance with suitable sketches. 8
8. An ideal turbojet flies at sea level at a Mach number of 0.75. It ingests 74.83 kg/s of air,
and the compressor operates with a total pressure ratio of 15. The fuel has a heating value of
41,000 kj/kg, and the burner exit total temperature is 1389 K. Find the thrust developed and
the TSFC. Assume that the specific heat ratio is 1.4. 16
9. Air enters a turbojet engine at a rate of 12*10 4 kg/h at 150C &1.03 bar and is compressed
adiabatically to 1820C & four times the pressure. Products of combustion enter the turbine at
8150C & leave it at 6500C to enter the nozzle. Calculate the isentropic efficiency of the
compressor, the power required to drive the compressor, the exit speed of gasses & thrust
developed when flying at 800 km/h. Assume the isentropic efficiency of the turbine is same
as that of the compressor and the nozzle efficiency is 90%.Assume the data required suitably.
16
10. A jet propelled plane consuming air at the rate of 18.2 kg/s is to fly at Mach number of
0.6 at an altitude of 4500m (Pa = 0.55 bar, Ta = 255K ). The diffuser which has a pressure
coefficient of 0.9, decreases the flow to a negligible velocity. The compressor pressure ratio is
5 & maximum temperature in the combustion chamber is 1273 K. After expanding in the
turbine, the gases continue to expand in the nozzle to a pressure of 0.69 bar. The isentropic
efficiency of compressor, turbine and nozzle are 0.81, 0.85 & 0.915 respectively. The heating
value of the fuel is 45870 kj/kg. Assume Cp = 1.005 kj/kg-K, Cpg = 1.147 kj/kg-K. Calculate

(i) Power input to the compressor

(ii) Power output of the turbine
(iii) The fuel air ratio
(iv) The thrust provided by the engine
(v) The thrust power developed. 16

UNIT-II

1. What are the requirements of an aircraft intake? 2

2. Write notes on pressure recovery factor of the intake? 2
3. What are the starting problems in supersonic inlets? 2
4. What are the factors to be considered while designing a subsonic inlet? 2
5. What are the factors to be considered while designing a supersonic inlet? 2
6. What is meant by sub critical mode of inlet operation? 2
1. What is need for supersonic combustion? 2
2. Define equivalence ratio and stochiometric fuel air ratio. 2
3. Define efficiency of the combustor. (R13_Dec16)
4. What is the purpose of primary air in combustion chamber? (R13_Dec16)
5. What is the purpose of secondary air in combustion chamber? 2
6. What is the purpose of dilution air in combustion chamber? 2
7. Define combustion intensity? 2
8. State the one advantage and one disadvantage of annular combustor. 2
9. What is flame holder? Why it’s used? 2
10. What are the types of combustion chamber? Which one most commonly used in
modern passenger jets? 2
1. What is choked nozzle? 2
2. Is it possible to have over expanded jets in convergent nozzle? Justify your answer. 2
3. Give any four functions of an exhaust nozzle. 2
4. When the mass flow rate is maximum in nozzle and where?
5. What is De-Laval nozzle?
6. What is under expansion in nozzle?
7. What is over expansion in nozzle?
8. What is optimum expansion in nozzle?
9. A subsonic diffuser can be used as supersonic nozzle. Justify.
10. A supersonic diffuser can be used as subsonic nozzle. Justify.
11. What is convergent nozzle?
12. What is divergent nozzle?
13. What is the difference between a nozzle and duct?
14. Why the divergent portion of a C-D nozzle is longer than the convergent portion?
15. What do you understand by critical condition in nozzle?

1. (i) Explain successive steps in the acceleration and over speeding of a one-
dimensional supersonic inlet with sketches. 8

(ii) Derive the relation between area ratio Amax/Ai and external deceleration ratio ui/ua.
8

2. A supersonic inlet is designed with a two-dimensional conical spike (with two half-cone
angles 100 and 200 relative to the axial centerline, respectively). The inlet is to operate at a
flight Mach number of 1.9.The two standing oblique shocks are attached to the spike and
cowl, and a converging inlet section with a throat of area A* is used to decelerate the flow
through internal compression. Assume γ = 1.4 and internal diffuser pressure recover factor Π r
= 0.97. Estimate the overall recovery factor Πd on the assumption that the inlet starts (i.e., the
normal shock is swallowed). Also, find the required A*/A1.

3. What are the different modes of inlet operation? Explain with suitable sketches. 16
4. Air enters a two-dimensional supersonic diffuser at a pressure of 14.102 kPa, a temperature
of 217 K, and with a Mach number of 3.0. The two-dimensional oblique shock diffuser has an
oblique shock angle of 27.80, which is followed by a normal shock. Determine, assuming
constant specific heats.
(i) The velocity, total temperature and pressure of the air entering the oblique shock.
(ii) The Mach number, total pressure after the oblique shock.
(iii) The flow deflection angle.
(iv) The Mach number, total and static pressure and static temperature after the normal
shock.
1. (a) What are the important factors affecting combustor design? 8
(b)Write down the methods of flame stabilization and explain with sketch. 8

2. (a)What are the three types of combustion chamber? Compare its advantages and
disadvantages. 8
(b) Name the material used for combustion chamber and discuss the special qualities of the
material used for combustion chamber? 8

3. (a)What are the factors affecting combustion chamber? Explain briefly? 8

(b) With the aid of a simplified picture explain the operation of a flame holder. 8

4. (i) With a neat sketch explain the working of a combustion chamber. 8

(ii) Consider n-decane fuel, balance the chemical equation for the stochiometric combustion
of this fuel in air and find the stochiometric fuel-to-air ratio. 8

1. (a) Plot Mach number, static temperature, static pressure and static density variations along
the longitudinal axis of a convergent-divergent nozzle, when it flows full. Explain the
variations. 8

(b)A De Laval nozzle has to be designed for an exit Mach number of 1.5 with exit diameter
of 200 mm. Find the ratio of throat area/exit area necessary. The reservoir conditions are
given as Po = 106 Pa, To = 20 0C. Find also the maximum mass flow rate through the nozzle.
What will be the exit pressure and temperature? 8

2. A converging-diverging is designed to operate with an exit Mach number of 1.75. The

nozzle is supplied from an air reservoir at 68bar (abs.). Assuming 1-d flow, calculate:

(i) Maximum backpressure to choke the nozzle. 4

(ii) Range of backpressure over which a normal shock will appear in the nozzle. 4
(iii) Back pressure for the nozzle to be perfectly expanded to design M. 4
(iv) Range of back pressure for supersonic flow at the nozzle exit plane. 4

3. (i) What are the types of nozzle? Explain various operating conditions of a C-D nozzle
with suitable sketch. 8
(ii) Write short notes on the following:
(a) Ejector and variable area nozzles 4
(b) Thrust reversing 4

4. An exhaust air stream at Mach 2.9, pressure 68.95kPa, and temperature 777.8 K enters a
frictionless diverging nozzle with a ratio of exit area to inlet area of 3.0. Determine the back
pressure necessary to produce a normal shock in the channel at an area equal to twice the
inlet area. Assume one-dimensional steady flow with the air behaving as a perfect gas with
constant specific heats and a specific heat ratio of 1.36; assume isentropic flow except for the
normal shock. 16

UNIT-III

1. Write down the difference between centrifugal and axial flow compressor?
2. What are the limitation of centrifugal compressor over axial flow compressor?
3. Define degree of reaction for an axial flow compressor.
4. Define rotating stall for compressors.
5. What are the causes for stalling in axial flow compressors?
6. Define slip factor. Give its formula to determine.
7. Write down the conditions for free and forced vortex flows.
8. Distinguish between surging and stalling. (R13_Dec16)
9. What is impeller in CFC? Give its importance.
10. Define power input factor.
11. What is work done factor? What is its importance?
12. Define flow coefficient.
13. Define loading coefficient.
14. Define stator enthalpy loss coefficient.
15. Define rotor enthalpy loss coefficient.
16. Define stator pressure loss coefficient.
17. Define rotor pressure loss coefficient.
18. What do you understand by 50% reaction stage? 2

1. An axial compressor stage has a mean diameter of 60cm and runs at 15000rpm. If the
actual temperature rise and pressure ratio developed are 300C and 1.4 respectively.
(i) The power required to drive the compressor while delivering 57 Kg/s of air;
assume mechanical efficiency of 86 % and an initial temperature of 350C.
(ii) The stage loading coefficient.
(iii) The stage efficiency and
(iv) The degree of reaction if the temperature at the rotor exits is 550C.

2. (i) Explain the working of a centrifugal compressor and draw the velocity triangles. 8

(ii) A centrifugal compressor has an impeller tip speed of 366 m/s. Determine the absolute
Mach number of the flow leaving the radial vanes of the impeller when the radial component
of velocity at impeller exit is 30.5 m/s and the slip factor is 0.9. Given that the flow area at
impeller exit is 0.1m2 and the total-to-total efficiency of the impeller is 90%, determine the
mass flow rate. 8

3. (i) A sixteen-stage axial flow compressor is to have a pressure ratio of 6.3. Tests have
shown that a stage total-to-total efficiency of 0.9 can be obtained for each of the first six
stages and 0.89 for each of the remaining ten stages. Assuming constant work done in each
stage and similar stages fine the compressor overall total-to –total efficiency. For a mass flow
rate of 40 kg/s determine the power required by the compressor. Assume an inlet total
temperature of 288 K. 8

(ii) Discuss the factors affecting stage pressure rise of an axial flow compressor with
suitable sketches. 8

4. A stage of a radial compressor is to be analyzed. It rotates at 12,300 rpm and compresses

31.75 kg/s of air. The inlet pressure and temperature are 241.325 kPa and 306K respectively.
The hub and tip radii of the blades at the inlet are 7.62 and 13.97cm respectively. The exit
radius is 27.94cm and the exit blade height is 2.54cm. The slip factor is unity. Flow enters the
inducer with no prewhirl and the impeller has straight radial blades. The efficiency of the
stage is 88%. The value of Cp and γ are 1.005 kj/kg-K and 1.397 respectively.Find the
following:
(i) Mean relative flow angle at the inlet.
(ii) The static pressure at the impeller exit.
 (iii) The total pressure ratio for the stage,
(iv) The Mach numbers at the impeller inlet and exit.
(v) The required power for the stage. 16

5. An axial flow compressor stage is designed to give free-vortex tangential velocity

distributions for all radii before and after the rotor blade row. The tip diameter is constant and
1.0m; the hub diameter is 0.9m and constant for the stage. at the rotor tip the flow angles are
as follows: 16
0
Absolute inlet angle, α1 = 30
Relative inlet angle, β1 = 600
Absolute outlet angle, α2 = 600
Relative outlet angle, β2 = 300
.Determine,
(i) the axial velocity
(ii) the mass flow rate
(iii) the power absorbed by the stage
(iv) the flow angles at the hub
(v) the reaction ratio of the state at the hub
Given that the rotational speed of the rotor is 6000 rpm and the gas density is 1.5 kg/m3 which
can be assumed constant for the stage. It can be further assumed that stagnation enthalpy and
entropy are constant and after the rotor row.

6. The mass flow rate of flow at 288 K and 101.3 KPa at the inlet to the impeller of the
centrifugal-flow compressor is 1.814 kg/s. The inlet flow is in the axial direction. The
impeller eye has the minimum diameter of 3.81cm and a maximum diameter of 12.7cm and
rotates at 35,000rpm. Assuming no blockage due to the blade, calculate the ideal angle at the
hub and tip at the inlet to the impeller. Draw velocity diagram at the hub and at the tip. 16

7. Explain the working of a axial flow compressor. Also draw the velocity triangles and h-s
diagram for AFC. 8

UNIT-IV

1. What is impulse stage?

2. What is reaction stage?
3. Define flow coefficient.
4. Define blade loading coefficient.
5. Define degree of reaction.
6. What is blade efficiency?
7. Define utilization factor.
8. Write the expression for work out.
9. What is blade speed ratio?
10. Define enthalpy loss coefficient.
11. Define pressure loss coefficient.
12. What is the expression for maximum utilization factor?
13. Define 0% reaction stage.
14. Define 50% reaction stage.
1. Define 100% reaction stage. 2
2. Derive the expression for degree of reaction for turbine stage. 8
3. Derive the expression for utilization factor for turbine stage. 8
4. Derive expression for work output and draw the h-s diagram and velocity diagram. 12
5. A multistage gas turbine is to be designed with impulse stages, and is to open with an
inlet pressure and temperature of 0.6 bar and 900 K and an outlet pressure of 1 bar.
The isentropic efficiency of the turbine is 85%. All the stages are to have a nozzle
outlet angle of 750 and equal outlet and inlet blade angles. Mean blade speed of 250
m/s and equal inlet and outlet gas velocities. Estimate the maximum number of stages
required. Assume Cp=1.15 kJ/kg-K. γ=1.33 and optimum blade speed ratio. 16
6. A gas turbine having single stage rotes at 10000 rpm. At the entry to the nozzles the
total head temperature and pressure of the gas is 7000 C and 4.5 bar respectively and
at outlet from the nozzle the static pressure is 2.6 bar. At the turbine outlet annulus
the static pressure is 1.5 bar. Mach number at outlet is limited to 0.5 and gas leaves in
axial direction. The outlet nozzle angle is 700 to the axial direction and the nozzle
efficiency is 97%. Calculate (i) gas angles at entry and outlet (ii)output
powerdeveloped by the turbine shaft. Assume the mean blade diameter 64 cm, gas
mass flow rate 22.5 kg/s, turbine mechanical efficiency 99% Cp=1.147 kJ/kg-K and
γ=1.33.

UNIT-V

1. Compare air breathing engine and rocket engine?

2. What type of nozzle is used in SCRAMJET engine? Give the
reason.
3. Why C-D nozzle used for rocket engine?
4.How do you classify ramjets based on combustion
process?
5. What is the need for supersonic combustion?
6. What is effective exhaust velocity?
7. Define specific impulse. Write down its significance.
8. Write two advantages of SCRAMJET engine
9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of of ramjet engine?
10. What is the difficulty for supersonic combustion?
11. What’s the difference between Ramjet and SCRAMJET engine?
12. Write the function of isolator in scramjet?
13. What is hypersonic air breathing propulsion?
14. What’s the difference between Ramjet and SCRAMJET engine?
15. What’s the difference between Ramjet and turbojet engine?
16. What type of diffuser is used in SCRAMJET engine? Give the
reason.
17. What type of nozzle is used in SCRAMJET engine? Give the
reason.
18. Write two advantages of ramjet engine.
19. Write two disadvantages of ramjet engine.
20. Write two advantages of SCRAMJET engine.
21. Write two disadvantages of SCRAMJET engine.
22. A ramjet engine operates at M=1.5 at an altitude of 6500m where pa =0.44 bar and
Ta=245 K. the diameter of inlet diffuser is 50 cm and the temperature at the nozzle
entry is 1600K. The C.V. of fuel is 40MJ/kg. The properties of combustion gas and air
are not same and assume the necessary values required. The velocity at the diffuser
exit is negligible. Determine (i)the ideal cycle efficiency (ii) flight speed,(iii) mass
flow rate of air,(iv) diffuser pressure ratio,(v) fuel-air ratio,(vi) Nozzle pressure ratio,
(vii)nozzle exit Mach number,(viii) propulsive efficiency,(ix) Thrust and (x) TSFC.

(16)
23. Explain the working of ramjet engine with neat sketch and h-s diagram. Also draw the
thermodynamic cycle and write the advantages and disadvantages of ramjet engine.
(8)
24. draw the thermodynamic cycle and write the advantages and disadvantages of ramjet
engine. (8)

25. Derive an expression for area-Mach number relation and explain its importance.
(8)

26. Write short notes on

i. Propulsive efficiency (II) Thermal efficiency (III) Overall Efficiency
for a Ramjet engine.

27. Draw and discuss the typical variations in pressure, temperature, gas velocity and gas
density in a
ramjet engine and compare it with scramjet engine.
(8)

28. Derive the expression for area-velocity relation. Explain its importance
(8)

29. Derive the expression for mass flow rate and show that max = po A* .

(8)
30. A ramjet is traveling at Mach 3 at an altitude of 4572 m, the external static
temperature is 258.4 K and the external static pressure is 57.1 kPa. The heating value
of the fuel is 46 520 kJ/kg. Air flows through the engine at 45.35 kg/s. The burner exit
total temperature is 1944 K. Find the thrust, fuel ratio and TSFC. The specific heat
ratio can be assumed to be 1.4. (16)