Chapter 1 - Idealized Flow Machines

Abstract

This chapter explains the workings of an idealized flow machine mainly through a stream tube. A flow machine is one that ingests a stream of fluid, processes it internally in some fashion, and then ejects the processed fluid back into the ambient surroundings. Several assumptions are made with ideal parameters for the reader to grasp the concepts explained. Conservation of mass, momentum, energy is studied to understand the dynamics of the flow machine. Zero heat addition and propulsive efficiency are studied with relation to thrust and drag of the engine. Principles of turbojet, ramjet, and scramjet engines are discussed. Effect of flight speed (in the range of (0 < M0 < 3); supersonic (in the range of (2 < M0 < 5); and hypersonic in the range of (M0 > 5) on a turbojet engine is discussed. Comparison of jet, turbojet, and rocket engines are given for better understanding of performance and fuel efficiency of the engines. Heat and power are combined to produce the turbofan engine, similarly turbojet and turboprop engines are also discussed with their specialties. Force field is analyzed for air breathing engines. Conditions are calculated to achieve maximum thrust for the isentropic nozzle of the engine.