Abstract
The thermodynamic cycle of an intercooled turbofan engine was optimized
by considering various characteristics of intercoolers (ICs).
Sixty-three intercooled turbofan engines were optimized using an
evolutionary algorithm. Thirty-nine design parameters were analyzed
using proper orthogonal decomposition, and the effects of the
IC performance on the engine thermodynamic cycle were examined.
The improvement in net fuel consumption due to intercooling
strongly depends on the characteristics of the IC fin, and the
net fuel consumption is minimized at a particular fin height. By
using ICs with an appropriate fin height, intercooling increases the
overall pressure ratio, while increasing the heat transfer surface areas
and cross-sectional areas of the ICs realizes high effectiveness
and low pressure losses. The pressure ratio partition between the
intermediate- and high-pressure compressors is determined according
to incompatible characteristics of the IC, such as pressure losses
and the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the
IC. Because the weight of the IC is proportional to its fin area density,
increasing the fin area density reduces the net fuel consumption.
However, it does not significantly influence the thermodynamic cycle
of the engine.
