Development of a Jet Engine Experiment for the Energy Systems Laboratory

Recently, a jet engine experiment was added to the Energy Systems Laboratory at Kettering University (formerly GMI). The educational objectives of this experiment are: to familiarize the students with the operation of a turbojet engine, the theory behind the thermodynamic processes involved, and the linear momentum equation; to determine theoretical and measured engine thrust and the efficiencies of the compressor, the combustion chamber, and the turbine; to determine the effect of engine speed on thrust-specific fuel consumption (TSFC) and engine emissions; to analyze the combustion process; and to perform a complete energy balance on the jet engine. The apparatus used is a small TTL model SR-30 turbojet engine capable of kerosene and diesel liquid fuel start and operation. Using an automatic data acquisition system, the students operate the engine at 50,000–75,000 rpm and measure various pressures and temperatures as well as fuel flow rate, air flow rate, engine emissions and engine thrust. The data is then used to calculate the TSFC, component efficiencies and the A/F ratio. By using the linear momentum principle, engine thrust is calculated and compared with the measured value. This paper presents the measured test data and analytical results obtained by using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES). Experimental results compare favorably with theoretical predictions.