A parametric study of a piston-prop aircraft engine using exergy and exergoeconomic analysis methods

Abstract

In this study exergetic and exergoeconomic analysis methods are applied to a four-cylinder spark ignition (SI) naturally aspirated and air-cooled piston-prop aircraft engine in the cruise phase of flight operations. The duration of cruise is selected to be 1 h. Three parameters altitude rated power setting (PS) and air-to-fuel ratio (AF) are varied by the calculation of the max-min values of exergy analysis. Based on the results of energy analysis the values for the maximum energy efficiency and fuel consumption flow rate are calculated to be 21.73% and 28.02 kg/h respectively at 1000-m altitude and 75% PS. The results of exergy analysis indicate that all exergetic values vary from 65% to 75% PS while this increase is not seen in exergoeconomic analysis. While the maximum exergy input rate is obtained to be 405.60 kW exergy efficiency has the minimum value with 14.43% and exergy destruction rate has the maximum value with 168.48 kW. These values are achieved at 3000-m altitude and 18 AFs. The maximum average exergy cost of the fuel is calculated to be 130.77 $/GJ at 1000-m altitude 13 AF ratios and 65% PS. At this point while the minimum cost rate associated with the exergy destruction is obtained to be 40.29 $/h the maximum exergoeconomic factor is found to be 19.98%. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.