MATLAB AND SIMULINK TECHNIQUES IN PERFORMANCE MODELLING AND CHARACTERISING OF CRITICAL VARIABLES THAT IMPACTS THE PERFORMANCE OF A TURBOFAN ENGINE

Due to an increase in complexity and high cost in the design of gas turbines, modelling and simulation have shown to be cost-effective since critical operating variables can be optimise for better performance. In addition, modelling reduces a lot of design time and design errors that are critical in precision engineering. In this project, Matlab simulink and Solidworks are used to simulate and characterise the critical operating variables that impacts the performance of a turbofan two-spool turbofan engine at different altitudes especially cruising altitude. Solidworks is then utilised to perform a fluid flow analysis for the system at high temperature operating conditions. The design will use an axial compressor as well as a high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) turbine. The approach is to mathematically model each component using known design parameters and thermodynamics equations. The bypass ratio and fuel mass flow will be varied with the aim to observe an alteration in engine performance to indicate a directly proportional relationship between the bypass ratio and the thrust. It was revealed that when the turbofan engine is running at high cruising altitude, the engine achieves low thrust specific fuel consumption.