Aerospace propulsion

Duration

26h Th, 26h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Koen Hillewaert

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

• Compressible flows : thermodynamic losses, Fanno and Rayleigh problems, flow in the de Laval nozzle, thrust developed by an engine.
• Propulsion force and energy balance, performance parameters and classification of propulsive systems.
• Propellers: operating principles and characteristics, regulation and power shafts;
• Jet engines : engine types, nominal and off-design performances, operation limits, transients;
• Jet engine component technology: intakes, compressors, turbines, fans, combustors, nozzles;
• Recent evolutions in civil aviation and impact on turbofan technology;
• Rocket engines : performances, nozzle sizing, thermochemistry of the combustion chamber, chemical reactions in the nozzle, selection of the propergols;
• Electric propulsor classification and operating principles;
• Elements of scientific computation for the numerical resolution of the exercises.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The objectives of this course are to provide the student with 

• the understanding of how a propulsion system is chosen and conceived according to its mission, to the technological limits and to the operating conditions;
• the comprehension of what influences its performances;
• the ability to estimate the operating point of the engine and the performance parameters;
• the ability to write small programs needed for computing estimates.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Thermodynamics, Heat Transfers and Fluid Mechanics

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

This course is organized throughout the second half of the academic year, by 4 hour sessions, at a rate of about 30 hours of theory and 15 hours of exercises.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

The course will be organised such as to allow interaction during the session, whether the student is attending the course physically or virtually.
To this end, the course is elaborated live on the computer, with the aid of a graphical tablet, as a replacement to the blackboard. The result is projected on the screen in the class room, transmitted live via the virtual class room on e-campus. The course is also recorded at the same time and made available on e-campus. At any time, the student can intervene for questions or clarifications, ... 
Following the color code 
- yellow : Currently, the class room is sufficiently large to accomodate all students. The student can therefore choose whether to attend physically or virtually.
- orange: if needed, the students wishing to attend the course physically will be distributed over two groups, who will follow the course at two different times.  
- red: the course is organised in the same way with only virtual attendance

Recommended or required readings

The course materials are available in electronic format on the e-campus site of the course. They include:

• Course notes; this year these will still be subject to regular updates;
• A collection of exercises including resolved exam exercises;
• Other standard works are referenced in the notes and made available if possible;
• Fora supporting discussions on the theory and exercises.  

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred remote


Additional information:

An oral examination on the theory and an exercise is organized in June (1st session) and September (2nd session). 

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

• Teacher : Koen Hillewaert (koen.hillewaert@uliege.be)
• Assistent : Thomas Lambert (t.lambert@uliege.be)

Items online