Combining effect of optimized axial compressor variable guide vanes and bleed air on the thermodynamic performance of aircraft engine system

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 119; pp. 199 - 210
• Main Authors: Kim, Sangjo, Son, Changmin, Kim, Kuisoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aerospace engines; Aircraft; Airplane engines; Axial compressor; Bleed air; Bleeding; Bypass ratio; Comparative studies; Compressors; Flow rates; Flow velocity; Fuel consumption; Genetic algorithms; Guide vanes; Mass flow rate; Optimization; Surge margin; Thermodynamics; Turbofan engine; Variable guide vanes; Variable guide vanes; Axial compressor; Turbofan engine; Surge margin; Optimization; Bleed air
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.12.076

Aim of this work is to provide evidence of the effectiveness of combined use of the variable guide vanes (VGVs) and bleed air on the thermodynamic performance of aircraft engine system. This paper performed the comparative study to evaluate the overall thermal performance of an aircraft engine with optimized VGVs and bleed air, separately or simultaneously. The low-bypass ratio turbofan engine has been modeled with a 0D/1D modeling approach. The genetic algorithm is employed to find the optimum schedule of VGVs and bleed air. There are four types of design variables: (1) the inlet guide vane (IGV) angle, (2) the IGV and 1st stator vane (SV) angles, (3) bleed air mass flow rate at the exit of the axial compressor, and (4) both type 2 and type 3. The optimization is conducted with surge margin constraints of more than 10% and 15% in the axial compressor. The results show that the additional use of the bleed air increases the efficiency of the compressors. Overall, the percentage reductions of the total fuel consumption for the engine with the IGV, 1st SV and bleed air schedule is 1.63% for 15% surge margin constraints when compared with the engine with the IGV schedule. •The effect of combined use of variable guide vanes and bleed air is evaluated.•The genetic algorithm is employed to find the optimum setting angle and bleed air.•A low bypass ratio mixed turbofan engine is analyzed for optimization.•Additional use of the bleed air shows improved overall performance of the engine.