Theoretical Performance Limits for Non-Static Ejector Thrust Augmentors

Abstract

An analytical study was performed to determine the theoretical limits on the performance of non-static ejector thrust augmentors. Idealizing assumptions were made, such as inviscid compressible working fluids, isentropic flows in inlets, diffusers, nozzles and ducts, constant pressure mixing, and thermally and calorically perfect fluids. By ignoring details of the primary flow 'pump', the performance of ejector augmentors was found in terms of three parameters (the secondary/primary mass flow ratio, a pressure parameter and a temperature parameter) in a form which was not an explicit function of the flight Mach number. It was also shown that multi-stage ejectors offered no performance improvement over ideal single-stage ejectors. Two primary 'pump' devices, a turbine engine gas generator and an isentropic compressor, were considered. With them, the Mach number dependent behavior of ideal ejectors was determined. As a result of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) The performance of ideal ejector is severely degraded by increasing the primary fluid temperature, (2) the performance of ideal ejectors is degraded faster than that of ideal turbofans as the flight Mach number is increased, (3) Neither the turbine engine nor the isentropic compressor is a suitable 'pump' for ideal ejectors, except at very low Mach numbers, and (4) Ejector augmentors should be most useful for low flight speed applications; e.g., V/STOL. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA083246

Entities

People

  • James S. Petty

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afterburners
  • Air Force
  • Compressors
  • Energy
  • Engines
  • Exhaust Nozzles
  • Flow
  • Gas Turbines
  • Generators
  • Heat Engines
  • Heat Transfer
  • Mach Number
  • Mass Flow
  • Thermodynamics
  • Turbine Components
  • Turbines
  • Turbofan Engines

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.