A. Spirkl, W. Muggli, L. Holly

The advantages of gas turbine engines have made them the most common propulsion system for helicopters in use today. The design of the helicopter determines the functional and economic requirements of the propulsion system. It is an aim to establish the system with the lowest overall cost (LCC/DOC) which also satisfies all defined requirements. Mandatory requirements are e.g. safety aspects, flight profile, mission task etc., while further items are desirable, to be optimised with less restrictions (dimensions, engine weight, specific fuel consumption, rating structure, acquisition and maintenance cost etc.) as well as other parameters which are not so easy to quantify (business politics etc.). The achievement of the objectives is greatly influenced by the freedom to develop a new engine or by the constraint to use an existing engine in a more or less modified design. The focal points are different for civil and military helicopters. As a basis for the optimisation the helicopter manufacturer provides trade-off factors which affect the overall system cost. Within these requirements the engine manufacturer defines the thermodynamic cycle and the engine configuration. The technologies which are available or can be developed within a set time period e.g. aerodynamics, materials, manufacturing processes, quality control procedures etc., are of great significance. Alternative applications and requirements for engine growth potential must also be considered. The design is an iterative process between the engine and helicopter manufacturers in order to derive an optimum overall system. These features were considered when the MTR390 turboshaft engine was designed. The engine for the "Tiger" helicopter is used as an example of the described procedure and its programme status is shown.

17th European Rotorcraft Forum 1991, Berlin

Conference Paper

englisch

21,0 x 29,7 cm, 18 Seiten

DGLR-Bericht, 1991, 1991-08, 17th European Rotorcraft Forum Proceedings; S.391-408; 1991; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn

NA

gas turbine engines, helicopters, mtr390 turboshaft

Bestellbar

1991