Introduction

Chapter 1 identified the basic engine types and defined the important operating performance parameters of gas turbines. That chapter also reviewed the fundamental thermodynamics of cycles and established that gas turbines consist of several important components. Although the operation and design of each component are essential for the efficient operation of the entire jet engine, such details will not be covered yet. Instead, the overall engine will be analyzed for given components with given characteristics. Later chapters address component operation and design. This chapter considers the ideal components. Its objective is to review the fundamental ideal thermodynamic processes (e.g., from Keenan 1970 or Wark and Richards 1999) and the gas dynamic processes (e.g., from Anderson 1982, Zucrow and Hoffman 1976, or Shapiro 1953) and to explain the physical processes for each of the components. Components are assembled in a “cycle analysis” to make it possible to predict the overall engine performance. This chapter presents quantitative examples to demonstrate the analysis and to give the reader a physical understanding of characteristics. Trend studies are also discussed to show the dependence of the overall characteristics on individual parameters. In Chapter 3, nonideal components in which losses occur are used to evaluate the overall performance of an engine. Chapters 2 and 3 each cover all basic engine configurations. As will be seen, the ideal cycle analysis results in relatively short closed-form equations for the engine characteristics. Developing these equations serves three purposes.