Exergy analysis of a turbofan aircraft engine

Abstract

An exergy analysis is reported for a General Electric turbofan engine (the CF6-80) using sea-level data. The effects on exergy efficiencies and exergy destructions are investigated of modifying the isentropic efficiencies of turbomachinery components. The most irreversible units in the system are found to be the fan and the core engine exhaust, with exergy loss rates of 47.3 MW and 35.9 MW, respectively, and the combustion chamber, with an exergy destruction rate of 31.5 MW. The exergy efficiencies of the fan and the core engine exhausts are found to be 12.9 and 12.7%, respectively.