Research on windmill starting characteristics of MTE-D micro turbine engine

• Published in: Chinese journal of aeronautics Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 858 - 867
• Main Authors: Xia, Chen, Fu, Xin, Wan, Zhaoyun, Huang, Guoping, Chen, Jie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Aerospace engines; Envelopes; Flameout boundary; Fuels; Ignition; Ignition characteristics; Low speed characteristics; Mathematical models; Micro turbine engine; Propane; Propulsion; Turbine engines; Windmill starting; Windmills; 导弹推进系统; 微型涡轮发动机; 点火特性; 燃料供给; 起动参数; 起动特性; 起动过程; 风车特性; Ignition characteristics; Flameout boundary; Windmill starting; Low speed characteristics; Micro turbine engine
• ISSN: 1000-9361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cja.2013.06.003

Micro turbine engine （MTE） is an important kind of propulsion system for miniature unmanned aircraft or missiles, because of its better high-speed performance （than propeller propulsion） and higher propulsion efficiency （obviously than rockets）. Windmill start is a common air-starting mode used in micro turbine engine. The windmill starting characteristics are important to the practical use of micro turbine engine. In this paper, the windmill starting characteristics research for a 12 cm diameter （MTE-D） micro turbine engine is carried out by experiment and numerical simulation. The characteristic of rotor mechanical losses at low-speed condition is stud- ied, and the engine common working line of windmill starting process is obtained. Based on the engine windmill characteristics, the propane ignition characteristics under different inflow conditions are researched, and the envelope of propane ignition and propane flameout is determined. The experimental research of fuel supply and ignition characteristics is completed, and the envelope of fuel supply and ignition is obtained. The windmill stage, propane ignition stage, fuel ignition stage and acceleration process from idling-speed to 80% full speed of MTE-D micro turbine engine is optimized, and the optimization windmill starting parameters are collected. The successful wind-mill starting experiment under this condition with engine speed up to 80% full speed indicates that these starting parameters are reasonable. All the starting parameters of MTE-D micro turbine engine obtained in this work are dimensionless parameters, and the conclusions obtained in this study have some reference to other micro turbine engines with the similar structural form and starting process.