1

KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

UNIT V
PROPULSION
PART A
1. What is thrust (or) drag? (April 96 MU )
The force which propels the aircraft towers at an given speed is called thrust or
propulsive force. This thrust mainly depends on the velocity of gases at the exit of the
nozzle.

2. Define Effective speed ratio (April 97 BU )

The ratio of flight speed to jet velocity is known as effective speed ratio
u

cj

3. Define specific thrust

The thrust developed per unit mass flow rate is known as specific thrust

F
FSP
m

4. What is thrust specific fuel consumption (TSFC)?
It is defined as the ratio of fuel consumption rate per unit thrust.
m
f
TSFC (or) SFC
F
5. Define Specific Impulse. (April 2000 MU)

The thrust developed per unit weight flow rate is known as specific impulse

F F
I sp ,
W mg

6. Define propulsive efficiency. (May 2004, AU)

It is defined as the ratio of propulsive power (or) thrust power to the power

propulsivepower
output of the engine p
poweroutput

UNIT - V
 2
KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

7. What are the main parts of ramjet engine? (May 2004, AU)
The main parts of ramjet engine are:
Supersonic diffuser
Subsonic diffuser
Combustion chamber
Discharge nozzle
8. What are the various types of air breathing engine? (April 2003, MU)
The various propulsive engines are:
Ramjet engine
Pulse jet engine
Turbojet engine
Turboprop engine
Turbofan engine
9. Give the expression for the thrust developed by a turbojet engine. (April
2003, MU)
Thrust F m
cj m
au

Where m
=Mass of air-fuel mixture kg/s Cj = Velocity of jet m/s
m
a = Mass of air kg/s

u =Velocity of aircraft (or) flight speed m/s.

10. Define thermal efficiency.

It is the ratio of power output of the engine to the power input to the engine

Poweroutputoftheengine
through fuel. t
powerinputoftheengine

11. Define overall efficiency. (April 2000, MU)

It is defined as the ratio of propulsive power to the power input to the engine.
Pr opulsivepower (or )Thrustpower
o
Powerinputtotheengine

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

12. what is the ram effect? (Oct. 99, MU)

In Ramjet engine the subsonic and supersonic diffusers are used to convert the
kinetic energy of the entering air into pressure energy. This energy transformation is
called the Ram effect and the pressure rise is called Ram pressure.

13. Define Thrust power (or) Propulsive Power. (Oct. 99, MU)
Thrust power is the product of thrust and flight speed.
Thrust power P = Thrust (F) X Flight speed (u)
P = F X u.
14. Find optimum propulsive efficiency when the jet velocity is 500 m/s and
flight velocity is 900 m/s. ( Oct. 98, MU)
2u
Propulsive efficiency p c u
j

2X900

500 900
=1.28
p 128 %

15. Find the ratio of jet speed to flight speed for optimum propulsive
efficiency. (Dec. 2004, AU)
2
Propulsive efficiency p
1 2
2
At optimum, p 1 1 1 2 2
1 2
2 2 1 0 ( 1) 2 0 1

u
1 u cj
cj

u = Flight speed, m/s. cj = Jet speed, m/s.

16.What is the type of compressor used in turbojet? Why? (Oct. 97, MU)

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

Rotary compressor is used in turbojet engine due to its high thrust and high
efficiency.
17. What is turboprop unit? (Oct. 97, MU)
Turboprop engine is very similar to turbojet engine. In this type, a turbine which
is used to drive the compressor and propeller.
18. Give the difference between Ramjet and Turbojet engine. (Oct. 96, MU)
S.No. Ramjet Engine Turbojet Engine
1. Compressor and turbine are not used. Compressor and turbine are used.
2. Take off thrust is zero. Low take off thrust.

3. Light weight. Weight is heavy compared to Ramjet

engine.
4. Cost low. Cost is high.

19. What is the difference between turboprop and turbojet engine. (April 97, MU).
S.No. Turbojet Engine Turboprop Engine
1. Power produced by the turbine is Power produced by the turbine is used
used to drive the compressor. to drive the compressor and propeller.
2. Low take off thrust. High take off thrust.
3. Low propulsive efficiency. Propulsive efficiency is good.
4. Less space need compared to More space needed.
turboprop engine.
5. Reduction gear is not needed. Reduction gear needed.

20. Give the difference between Ramjet and pulsejet? (April 96, MU)

S.No. Ramjet Engine Pulsejet Engine

1. Take off thrust is zero. It develops thrust at zero speed.
2. There is no upper limit to the flight Flight speed is limited to 750 km/h.
speed.
3. The specific fuel consumption is High rates of fuel consumption.
better than other gas turbine power
plants at high speed.

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

21. what is thrust augmentation? ( Oct. 95, MU)

To achieve better take-off performance, additional fuel is burnt in the tail pipe
between the turbine exhaust section and entrance section of the exhaust nozzle. This
method of thrust augmentation increases the jet velocity and is known as after burning.
It is used for fast and take-off.

22. Why ramjet engine does not require a compressor and a turbine? (April,
96, MSU)
In Ramjet engine due to supersonic and subsonic diffuser, the static pressure of
air is increased to ignition pressure. So there is no need of compressor and turbine.

23. What is the basic difference between rocket propulsion and jet
propulsion? (April, 96, MSU)
S.No Jet Propulsion Rocket Propulsion
1. Combustion takes place by using Combustion takes place by using its own
atmospheric air. oxygen supply.
2. Altitude limitation. No altitude.
3. Flight speed always less than jet Flight speed can be greater than jet
velocity velocity
4. Thrust decreases with altitude Thrust improves slightly with altitude

24. Sketch the thrust and propulsive efficiency variation against the speed
ratio for a turbojet engine. (Dec. 2004, AU)

25. What is scram jet? (May 2005, AU)

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

A supersonic combustion ramjet engine is known as scram jet. In scram jet, the
flow enters the combustor at supersonic velocity and comparatively lower temperature.
The static pressure is high enough to provide the required expansion in the nozzle.

26. How is turbine engine different from turbo prop engine? (Dec. 2005, AU)
S.No Turbo Prop Engine Turbo Fan Engine
1. Relatively low flight speed. High flight speed as compared to turbo
prop engine.
2. By pass ratio is high. By pass ratio is low.
3. Gear arrangement is necessary to Gear arrangement is not necessary.
reduce the engine speed.
4. The total thrust produced in this The total thrust produced in the engine is
engine is the sum of the thrust the sum of the thrust produced by the
produced by the propeller and the primary air and secondary air.
thrust produced by the nozzle.

27. What is monopropellant? Give one example for it. ( Au may 04 )

A liquid propellant which contains both the fuels and oxidizer in a single chemical
is known as monopropellant. It is stable at normal ambient conditions and liberate
thermo chemical energy on heating.
Examples: 1. Nitroglycerine
2. Nitromethane.

28. Classify the rocket engines based on source of energy employed.

On the basis of source of energy employed, rocked engine can be classified as:
1. Chemical rocket engine
2. Solar rocket engines
3. Nuclear rocket engine
4. Electrical rocket engines.
29. What is IWR?

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

IWR (Impulse to Weight Ratio) is the rario of total impulse of the rocket to the
total weight of the rocket.
I total
IWR
Wtotal

30. Define the terms: (i) UDMH (ii) RFNA (iii) JATO (iv) RATO
UDMH Unsymmetrical dimethl hydrazine
RFNA --Red fuming nitric acid
JATO - Jed assisted take off
RATO - Rocket assisted take off.

PART - B
1. Explain with neat sketches the principle of operation of
(i) Ram jet Engine
(ii) Turbojet Engine
(iii)Pulse jet engine (or) flying bomb
2. Explain with neat sketches the principle of operation of
(i) turbo-prop engine (or) turbo-propeller engine
(ii) Turbofan engine

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

3. Derive components efficiencies

4. Derive the expression for the thrust, propulsive efficiency, thermal efficiency, overall
efficiency and the optimum value of the flight to jet speed ratio for turbojet engine (Dec
2003 au)
5. Explain the construction and operation of Liquid propellant and feed system rocket
engine. Also name any four solid propellants. (Au Dec 2003)
6. Explain the construction and operation of solid propellant and feed system rocket
engine. Also name any four solid propellants. (Au Dec 2003)
7. Explain nuclear rocket engine, Electrical rocket engine, ARC plasma rocket engine,
iron rocket engine , Magneto plasma rocket engine, solar rocket Problems
8. A ramjet engine operates at M= 1.2 at an altitude of 6500 m. The diameter of the
inlet diffuser at entry is 50 cm and the stagnation temperature is 1500 k. The calorific
value of the fuel is used 40 Mj/kg. The properties of the combustion gases are same as
those air ( 1.4, R 287J / kgK The velocity of the air at diffuser exit is negligible
calculate
1. The efficiency of the ideal cycle
2. Flight speed
3. Air flow rate
4. Diffuser pressure ratio
5. Fuel air ratio
6. Nozzle jet mach number of the diffuser = 0.9 , combustion and the nozzle = 0.96
9. The specific impulse of a rocket is 1255 and the flow rate of propellant is 44 kg/s. The
nozzle throat area is 18cm 2 and the pressure in the combustor is 25 bar. Determine
thrust co efficient, propellant flow co efficient, specific propellant consumption and
characteristic velocity. (AU APR2005)

10. The flight speed of a turbojet is 800 km /hr at altitude. The density of the air at that
altitude is 0.17 kg/m altitude0.17kg/m 3 The drag for the plane is 6.8 Kn The propulsive
efficiency of the jet is 60% .Calculate SFC,Air fuel ratio and jet velocity. Assume the

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

calorific value of the fuel is 45000 kj/kg and overall efficiency of the turbojet plant as
18%(Au- nov 2005).

11. Calculate the thrust specific impulse, propulsive efficiency thermal and overall
efficiency of a rocket engine from the following data:
Effective jet of velocity = 1250m/s
Flight to jet speed ratio = 0.8
Oxidizer flow rate = 3.5 kg/s
Fuel flow rate =1 kg/s
Heat of reaction of exhaust gases = 2500 kj/kg

ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
Unit-V
1. Explain with neat sketches the principle of operation of
(i) Ram jet Engine
(ii) Turbojet Engine
(iii)Pulse jet engine (or) flying bomb
2. Explain with neat sketches the principle of operation of
(i) turbo-prop engine (or) turbo-propeller engine

UNIT - V
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KATHIR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Wisdom Tree Coimbatore-641062
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
III YEAR & VI SEMESTER

ME 2351- GAS DYNAMICS & JET PROPULSION

(ii) Turbofan engine

3. Derive components efficiencies
4. Derive the expression for the thrust, propulsive efficiency, thermal efficiency, overall
efficiency and the optimum value of the flight to jet speed ratio for turbojet engine (Dec
2003 au)
5. Explain the construction and operation of Liquid propellant and feed system rocket
engine. Also name any four solid propellants.(Au Dec 2003)

UNIT - V