Design and Analysis of an Intercooled Turbofan Engine

Journal article, 2010

The performance of an intercooled turbofan engine is analysed by multidisciplinary optimization. A model for making preliminary simplified analysis of the mechanical design of the engine is coupled to an aircraft model and an engine performance model. A conventional turbofan engine with technology representative for a year 2013 entry of service is compared with a corresponding intercooled engine. A mission fuel burn reduction of 3.4% is observed. The results are analysed in terms of the relevant constraints such as compressor exit blade height. It is shown that the gas path of an intercooled engine for medium range commericial transport applications, having an overall pressure ratio greater than 70 in top of climb, may still be optimized to fulfil a compressor exit blade height constraint. This indicates that a state of the art high pressure compressor efficiency can be achieved. Empirical data and a parametric CFD study is used to verify the intercooler heat transfer and pressure loss characteristics.