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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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Engines and transmissions 225<br />

Fig. 6.18 <strong>The</strong> Allison C-250 light turbine. <strong>The</strong> compressor has a centrifugal stage and <strong>the</strong> flow through <strong>the</strong><br />

power turbine is reversed to shorten <strong>the</strong> rotating assembly. Compressor is two stage, first stage (a)is axial,<br />

second stage (b)is centrifugal. Compressor air is ducted to <strong>the</strong> rear <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> engine by two pipes (c)and led to<br />

<strong>the</strong> burner (d)where fuel is injected. Hot gases drive turbine (e)which powers <strong>the</strong> compressor, and turbine<br />

(f)which is <strong>the</strong> free power turbine. Power turbine runs on <strong>the</strong> outside <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mainshaft and transfers power<br />

through geartrain (g)to output shaft. Exhausts (h)are at <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> engine and lead upwards. Mainshaft<br />

has its own geartrain (not shown)to power accessories.<br />

<strong>The</strong> outward flow <strong>of</strong> compressed air enters two large tubes leading to <strong>the</strong> burner. <strong>The</strong><br />

flow is turned around to lead forward prior to entering <strong>the</strong> burner where fuel is injected.<br />

<strong>The</strong> hot gases <strong>the</strong>n lead forward through <strong>the</strong> gas generator turbine that drives <strong>the</strong> compressor<br />

and <strong>the</strong>n through <strong>the</strong> free turbine that powers <strong>the</strong> helicopter. <strong>The</strong> exhaust gases<br />

are <strong>the</strong>n turned upwards and exit through <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> engine compartment.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> engine are two independent gear trains. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se transfers<br />

power from <strong>the</strong> power turbine to <strong>the</strong> rotors and drives <strong>the</strong> power turbine governor. <strong>The</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r transfers power from <strong>the</strong> gas generator spool to <strong>the</strong> fuel pump, <strong>the</strong> oil pump,<br />

<strong>the</strong> gas producer governor and <strong>the</strong> hydraulic pump for <strong>the</strong> powered flying controls.<br />

This gear train also allows <strong>the</strong> electric starter motor to spin <strong>the</strong> gas producer spool.<br />

A significant advantage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> turbine is that <strong>the</strong>re are no reciprocating parts so that it<br />

can turn a lot faster than a piston engine. More charge can be passed at high speed, and<br />

more power developed. <strong>The</strong> output torque is unvarying and allows <strong>the</strong> transmission to<br />

be more lightly built than a piston engine transmission. <strong>The</strong> power to weight ratio <strong>of</strong><br />

a turbine engine is quite incredible. In fact a turbine engine has no natural power limit<br />

because it has no induction throttle and if not externally controlled by restricting fuel<br />

flow could produce so much power that it would reach excessive internal temperatures<br />

or RPM and destroy itself. Practical engines are controlled or governed so that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

can only produce a fraction <strong>of</strong> this power so that <strong>the</strong>y will have a reasonable life. An<br />

indication <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stress in a turbine engine can be obtained from <strong>the</strong> turbine outlet<br />

temperature (TOT).<br />

When an engine is controlled in this way <strong>the</strong> power output is said to be flat rated.<br />

As power is artificially limited, it can remain constant as <strong>the</strong> density falls with altitude<br />

since this initially limits only <strong>the</strong> maximum power. Governed power will fall<br />

only when <strong>the</strong> maximum power <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong> engine is safely capable falls below <strong>the</strong><br />

governing threshold. <strong>The</strong> altitude performance <strong>of</strong> turbine engines is consequently good.<br />

As altitude increases, <strong>the</strong> reduction in density is beneficially <strong>of</strong>fset by <strong>the</strong> reduction

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