Thrust-specific fuel consumption
Thrust specific fuel consumption (TSFC) is an engineering term that is used to describe the fuel efficiency of an engine design with respect to thrust output. TSFC may also be thought of as fuel consumption (grams/second) per unit of thrust (kilonewtons, or kN). It is thus thrust-specific, meaning that the fuel consumption is divided by the thrust.
TSFC or SFC for thrust engines (e.g. turbojets, turbofans, ramjets, rocket engines, etc.) is the mass of fuel needed to provide the net thrust for a given period e.g. lb/(h·lbf) (pounds of fuel per hour-pound of thrust) or g/(s·kN) (grams of fuel per second-kilonewton). Mass of fuel is used rather than volume (gallons or litres) for the fuel measure since it is independent of temperature.[1]
Specific fuel consumption of air-breathing jet engines at their maximum efficiency varies more or less inversely with speed, which means that the fuel consumption per mile or per km can be a more appropriate comparison for aircraft that travel at very different speeds.
This figure is inversely proportional to specific impulse.
Significance of SFC
SFC is dependent on engine design, but differences in the SFC between different engines using the same underlying technology tend to be quite small. Increasing overall pressure ratio on jet engines tends to decrease SFC.
In practical applications, other factors are usually highly significant in determining the fuel efficiency of a particular engine design in that particular application. For instance, in aircraft, turbine (jet and turboprop) engines are typically much smaller and lighter than equivalently powerful piston engine designs, both properties reducing the levels of drag on the plane and reducing the amount of power needed to move the aircraft. Therefore, turbines are more efficient for aircraft propulsion than might be indicated by a simplistic look at the table below.
SFC varies with throttle setting, altitude and climate. For jet engines, flight speed also has a significant effect upon SFC; SFC is roughly proportional to air speed (actually exhaust velocity), but speed along the ground is also proportional to air speed. Since work done is force times distance, mechanical power is force times speed. Thus, although the nominal SFC is a useful measure of fuel efficiency, it should be divided by speed to get a way to compare engines that fly at different speeds.
For example, Concorde cruised at Mach 2.05 with its engines giving an SFC of 1.195 lb/(lbf·h) (see below); this is equivalent to an SFC of 0.51 lb/(lbf·h) for an aircraft flying at Mach 0.85, which would be better than even modern engines; the Olympus 593 was the world's most efficient jet engine.[2][3] However, Concorde ultimately has a heavier airframe and, due to being supersonic, is less aerodynamically efficient, i.e., the lift to drag ratio is far lower. In general the total fuel burn of a complete aircraft is of far more importance to the customer.
Units
Specific Impulse (by weight) |
Specific Impulse (by mass) |
Effective exhaust velocity |
Specific Fuel Consumption | |
---|---|---|---|---|
SI | =X seconds | =9.8066 X N·s/kg | =9.8066 X m/s | =101,972 (1/X) g/(kN·s) / {g/(kN·s)=s/m} |
Imperial units | =X seconds | =X lbf·s/lb | =32.16 X ft/s | =3,600 (1/X) lb/(lbf·h) |
Typical values of SFC for thrust engines
Rocket engines in vacuum | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Type | First run |
Application | TSFC | Isp (by weight) | Isp (by mass) | |
lb/lbf·h | g/kN·s | s | m/s | ||||
Avio P80 | solid fuel | 2006 | Vega stage 1 | 13 | 360 | 280 | 2700 |
Avio Zefiro 23 | solid fuel | 2006 | Vega stage 2 | 12.52 | 354.7 | 287.5 | 2819 |
Avio Zefiro 9A | solid fuel | 2008 | Vega stage 3 | 12.20 | 345.4 | 295.2 | 2895 |
Merlin 1D | liquid fuel | 2013 | Falcon 9 | 12 | 330 | 310 | 3000 |
RD-843 | liquid fuel | Vega upper stage | 11.41 | 323.2 | 315.5 | 3094 | |
Kuznetsov NK-33 | liquid fuel | 1970s | N-1F, Soyuz-2-1v stage 1 | 10.9 | 308 | 331[4] | 3250 |
NPO Energomash RD-171M | liquid fuel | Zenit-2M, -3SL, -3SLB, -3F stage 1 | 10.7 | 303 | 337 | 3300 | |
LE-7A | cryogenic | H-IIA, H-IIB stage 1 | 8.22 | 233 | 438 | 4300 | |
Snecma HM-7B | cryogenic | Ariane 2, 3, 4, 5 ECA upper stage | 8.097 | 229.4 | 444.6 | 4360 | |
LE-5B-2 | cryogenic | H-IIA, H-IIB upper stage | 8.05 | 228 | 447 | 4380 | |
Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 | cryogenic | 1981 | Space Shuttle, SLS stage 1 | 7.95 | 225 | 453[5] | 4440 |
Aerojet Rocketdyne RL-10B-2 | cryogenic | Delta III, Delta IV, SLS upper stage | 7.734 | 219.1 | 465.5 | 4565 | |
NERVA NRX A6 | nuclear | 1967 | 869 |
Jet engines with Reheat, static, sea level | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Type | First run |
Application | TSFC | Isp (by weight) | Isp (by mass) | |
lb/lbf·h | g/kN·s | s | m/s | ||||
Turbo-Union RB.199 | turbofan | Tornado | 2.5[6] | 70.8 | 1440 | 14120 | |
GE F101-GE-102 | turbofan | 1970s | B-1B | 2.46 | 70 | 1460 | 14400 |
Tumansky R-25-300 | turbojet | MIG-21bis | 2.206[6] | 62.5 | 1632 | 16000 | |
GE J85-GE-21 | turbojet | F-5E/F | 2.13[6] | 60.3 | 1690 | 16570 | |
GE F110-GE-132 | turbofan | F-16E/F | 2.09[6] | 59.2 | 1722 | 16890 | |
Honeywell/ITEC F125 | turbofan | F-CK-1 | 2.06[6] | 58.4 | 1748 | 17140 | |
Snecma M53-P2 | turbofan | Mirage 2000C/D/N | 2.05[6] | 58.1 | 1756 | 17220 | |
Snecma Atar 09C | turbojet | Mirage III | 2.03[6] | 57.5 | 1770 | 17400 | |
Snecma Atar 09K-50 | turbojet | Mirage IV, 50, F1 | 1.991[6] | 56.4 | 1808 | 17730 | |
GE J79-GE-15 | turbojet | F-4E/EJ/F/G, RF-4E | 1.965 | 55.7 | 1832 | 17970 | |
Saturn AL-31F | turbofan | Su-27/P/K | 1.96[7] | 55.5 | 1837 | 18010 | |
GE F110-GE-129 | turbofan | F-16C/D, F-15EX | 1.9[6] | 53.8 | 1895 | 18580 | |
Soloviev D-30F6 | turbofan | MiG-31, S-37/Su-47 | 1.863[6] | 52.8 | 1932 | 18950 | |
Lyulka AL-21F-3 | turbojet | Su-17, Su-22 | 1.86[6] | 52.7 | 1935 | 18980 | |
Klimov RD-33 | turbofan | 1974 | MiG-29 | 1.85 | 52.4 | 1946 | 19080 |
Saturn AL-41F-1S | turbofan | Su-35S/T-10BM | 1.819 | 51.5 | 1979 | 19410 | |
Volvo RM12 | turbofan | 1978 | Gripen A/B/C/D | 1.78[6] | 50.4 | 2022 | 19830 |
GE F404-GE-402 | turbofan | F/A-18C/D | 1.74[6] | 49 | 2070 | 20300 | |
Kuznetsov NK-32 | turbofan | 1980 | Tu-144LL, Tu-160 | 1.7 | 48 | 2100 | 21000 |
Snecma M88-2 | turbofan | 1989 | Rafale | 1.663 | 47.11 | 2165 | 21230 |
Eurojet EJ200 | turbofan | 1991 | Eurofighter | 1.66–1.73 | 47–49[8] | 2080–2170 | 20400–21300 |
Dry jet engines, static, sea level | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Type | First run |
Application | TSFC | Isp (by weight) | Isp (by mass) | |
lb/lbf·h | g/kN·s | s | m/s | ||||
GE J85-GE-21 | turbojet | F-5E/F | 1.24[6] | 35.1 | 2900 | 28500 | |
Snecma Atar 09C | turbojet | Mirage III | 1.01[6] | 28.6 | 3560 | 35000 | |
Snecma Atar 09K-50 | turbojet | Mirage IV, 50, F1 | 0.981[6] | 27.8 | 3670 | 36000 | |
Snecma Atar 08K-50 | turbojet | Super Étendard | 0.971[6] | 27.5 | 3710 | 36400 | |
Tumansky R-25-300 | turbojet | MIG-21bis | 0.961[6] | 27.2 | 3750 | 36700 | |
Lyulka AL-21F-3 | turbojet | Su-17, Su-22 | 0.86 | 24.4 | 4190 | 41100 | |
GE J79-GE-15 | turbojet | F-4E/EJ/F/G, RF-4E | 0.85 | 24.1 | 4240 | 41500 | |
Snecma M53-P2 | turbofan | Mirage 2000C/D/N | 0.85[6] | 24.1 | 4240 | 41500 | |
Volvo RM12 | turbofan | 1978 | Gripen A/B/C/D | 0.824[6] | 23.3 | 4370 | 42800 |
RR Turbomeca Adour | turbofan | 1999 | Jaguar retrofit | 0.81 | 23 | 4400 | 44000 |
Honeywell/ITEC F124 | turbofan | 1979 | L-159, X-45 | 0.81[6] | 22.9 | 4440 | 43600 |
Honeywell/ITEC F125 | turbofan | F-CK-1 | 0.8[6] | 22.7 | 4500 | 44100 | |
PW J52-P-408 | turbojet | A-4M/N, TA-4KU, EA-6B | 0.79 | 22.4 | 4560 | 44700 | |
Saturn AL-41F-1S | turbofan | Su-35S/T-10BM | 0.79 | 22.4 | 4560 | 44700 | |
Snecma M88-2 | turbofan | 1989 | Rafale | 0.782 | 22.14 | 4600 | 45100 |
Klimov RD-33 | turbofan | 1974 | MiG-29 | 0.77 | 21.8 | 4680 | 45800 |
RR Pegasus 11-61 | turbofan | AV-8B+ | 0.76 | 21.5 | 4740 | 46500 | |
Eurojet EJ200 | turbofan | 1991 | Eurofighter | 0.74–0.81 | 21–23[8] | 4400–4900 | 44000–48000 |
GE F414-GE-400 | turbofan | 1993 | F/A-18E/F | 0.724[9] | 20.5 | 4970 | 48800 |
Kuznetsov NK-32 | turbofan | 1980 | Tu-144LL, Tu-160 | 0.72-0.73 | 20–21 | 4900–5000 | 48000–49000 |
Soloviev D-30F6 | turbofan | MiG-31, S-37/Su-47 | 0.716[6] | 20.3 | 5030 | 49300 | |
Snecma Larzac | turbofan | 1972 | Alpha Jet | 0.716 | 20.3 | 5030 | 49300 |
IHI F3 | turbofan | 1981 | Kawasaki T-4 | 0.7 | 19.8 | 5140 | 50400 |
Saturn AL-31F | turbofan | Su-27 /P/K | 0.666-0.78[7][9] | 18.9–22.1 | 4620–5410 | 45300–53000 | |
RR Spey RB.168 | turbofan | AMX | 0.66[6] | 18.7 | 5450 | 53500 | |
GE F110-GE-129 | turbofan | F-16C/D, F-15 | 0.64[9] | 18 | 5600 | 55000 | |
GE F110-GE-132 | turbofan | F-16E/F | 0.64[9] | 18 | 5600 | 55000 | |
Turbo-Union RB.199 | turbofan | Tornado ECR | 0.637[6] | 18.0 | 5650 | 55400 | |
PW F119-PW-100 | turbofan | 1992 | F-22 | 0.61[9] | 17.3 | 5900 | 57900 |
Turbo-Union RB.199 | turbofan | Tornado | 0.598[6] | 16.9 | 6020 | 59000 | |
GE F101-GE-102 | turbofan | 1970s | B-1B | 0.562 | 15.9 | 6410 | 62800 |
PW TF33-P-3 | turbofan | B-52H, NB-52H | 0.52[6] | 14.7 | 6920 | 67900 | |
RR AE 3007H | turbofan | RQ-4, MQ-4C | 0.39[6] | 11.0 | 9200 | 91000 | |
GE F118-GE-100 | turbofan | 1980s | B-2 | 0.375[6] | 10.6 | 9600 | 94000 |
GE F118-GE-101 | turbofan | 1980s | U-2S | 0.375[6] | 10.6 | 9600 | 94000 |
General Electric CF6-50C2 | turbofan | A300, DC-10-30 | 0.371[6] | 10.5 | 9700 | 95000 | |
GE TF34-GE-100 | turbofan | A-10 | 0.37[6] | 10.5 | 9700 | 95000 | |
CFM CFM56-2B1 | turbofan | C-135, RC-135 | 0.36[10] | 10 | 10000 | 98000 | |
Progress D-18T | turbofan | 1980 | An-124, An-225 | 0.345 | 9.8 | 10400 | 102000 |
PW F117-PW-100 | turbofan | C-17 | 0.34[11] | 9.6 | 10600 | 104000 | |
PW PW2040 | turbofan | Boeing 757 | 0.33[11] | 9.3 | 10900 | 107000 | |
CFM CFM56-3C1 | turbofan | 737 Classic | 0.33 | 9.3 | 11000 | 110000 | |
GE CF6-80C2 | turbofan | 744, 767, MD-11, A300/310, C-5M | 0.307-0.344 | 8.7–9.7 | 10500–11700 | 103000–115000 | |
EA GP7270 | turbofan | A380-861 | 0.299[9] | 8.5 | 12000 | 118000 | |
GE GE90-85B | turbofan | 777-200/200ER/300 | 0.298[9] | 8.44 | 12080 | 118500 | |
GE GE90-94B | turbofan | 777-200/200ER/300 | 0.2974[9] | 8.42 | 12100 | 118700 | |
RR Trent 970-84 | turbofan | 2003 | A380-841 | 0.295[9] | 8.36 | 12200 | 119700 |
GE GEnx-1B70 | turbofan | 787-8 | 0.2845[9] | 8.06 | 12650 | 124100 | |
RR Trent 1000C | turbofan | 2006 | 787-9 | 0.273[9] | 7.7 | 13200 | 129000 |
Jet engines, cruise | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Model | Type | First run |
Application | TSFC | Isp (by weight) | Isp (by mass) | |
lb/lbf·h | g/kN·s | s | m/s | ||||
Ramjet | Mach 1 | 4.5 | 130 | 800 | 7800 | ||
J-58 | turbojet | 1958 | SR-71 at Mach 3.2 (Reheat) | 1.9[6] | 53.8 | 1895 | 18580 |
RR/Snecma Olympus | turbojet | 1966 | Concorde at Mach 2 | 1.195[12] | 33.8 | 3010 | 29500 |
PW JT8D-9 | turbofan | 737 Original | 0.8[13] | 22.7 | 4500 | 44100 | |
Honeywell ALF502R-5 | GTF | BAe 146 | 0.72[11] | 20.4 | 5000 | 49000 | |
Soloviev D-30KP-2 | turbofan | Il-76, Il-78 | 0.715 | 20.3 | 5030 | 49400 | |
Soloviev D-30KU-154 | turbofan | Tu-154M | 0.705 | 20.0 | 5110 | 50100 | |
RR Tay RB.183 | turbofan | 1984 | Fokker 70, Fokker 100 | 0.69 | 19.5 | 5220 | 51200 |
GE CF34-3 | turbofan | 1982 | Challenger, CRJ100/200 | 0.69 | 19.5 | 5220 | 51200 |
GE CF34-8E | turbofan | E170/175 | 0.68 | 19.3 | 5290 | 51900 | |
Honeywell TFE731-60 | GTF | Falcon 900 | 0.679[14] | 19.2 | 5300 | 52000 | |
CFM CFM56-2C1 | turbofan | DC-8 Super 70 | 0.671[11] | 19.0 | 5370 | 52600 | |
GE CF34-8C | turbofan | CRJ700/900/1000 | 0.67-0.68 | 19–19 | 5300–5400 | 52000–53000 | |
CFM CFM56-3C1 | turbofan | 737 Classic | 0.667 | 18.9 | 5400 | 52900 | |
CFM CFM56-2A2 | turbofan | 1974 | E-3, E-6 | 0.66[10] | 18.7 | 5450 | 53500 |
RR BR725 | turbofan | 2008 | G650/ER | 0.657 | 18.6 | 5480 | 53700 |
CFM CFM56-2B1 | turbofan | C-135, RC-135 | 0.65[10] | 18.4 | 5540 | 54300 | |
GE CF34-10A | turbofan | ARJ21 | 0.65 | 18.4 | 5540 | 54300 | |
CFE CFE738-1-1B | turbofan | 1990 | Falcon 2000 | 0.645[11] | 18.3 | 5580 | 54700 |
RR BR710 | turbofan | 1995 | G. V/G550, Global Express | 0.64 | 18 | 5600 | 55000 |
GE CF34-10E | turbofan | E190/195 | 0.64 | 18 | 5600 | 55000 | |
General Electric CF6-50C2 | turbofan | A300B2/B4/C4/F4, DC-10-30 | 0.63[11] | 17.8 | 5710 | 56000 | |
PowerJet SaM146 | turbofan | Superjet LR | 0.629 | 17.8 | 5720 | 56100 | |
CFM CFM56-7B24 | turbofan | 737 NG | 0.627[11] | 17.8 | 5740 | 56300 | |
RR BR715 | turbofan | 1997 | 717 | 0.62 | 17.6 | 5810 | 56900 |
GE CF6-80C2-B1F | turbofan | 747-400 | 0.605[12] | 17.1 | 5950 | 58400 | |
CFM CFM56-5A1 | turbofan | A320 | 0.596 | 16.9 | 6040 | 59200 | |
Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 | turbofan | Il-96-400 | 0.595 | 16.9 | 6050 | 59300 | |
PW PW2040 | turbofan | 757-200 | 0.582[11] | 16.5 | 6190 | 60700 | |
PW PW4098 | turbofan | 777-300 | 0.581[11] | 16.5 | 6200 | 60800 | |
GE CF6-80C2-B2 | turbofan | 767 | 0.576[11] | 16.3 | 6250 | 61300 | |
IAE V2525-D5 | turbofan | MD-90 | 0.574[15] | 16.3 | 6270 | 61500 | |
IAE V2533-A5 | turbofan | A321-231 | 0.574[15] | 16.3 | 6270 | 61500 | |
RR Trent 700 | turbofan | 1992 | A330 | 0.562[16] | 15.9 | 6410 | 62800 |
RR Trent 800 | turbofan | 1993 | 777-200/200ER/300 | 0.560[16] | 15.9 | 6430 | 63000 |
Progress D-18T | turbofan | 1980 | An-124, An-225 | 0.546 | 15.5 | 6590 | 64700 |
CFM CFM56-5B4 | turbofan | A320-214 | 0.545 | 15.4 | 6610 | 64800 | |
CFM CFM56-5C2 | turbofan | A340-211 | 0.545 | 15.4 | 6610 | 64800 | |
RR Trent 500 | turbofan | 1999 | A340-500/600 | 0.542[16] | 15.4 | 6640 | 65100 |
CFM LEAP-1B | turbofan | 2014 | 737 MAX | 0.53-0.56 | 15–16 | 6400–6800 | 63000–67000 |
Aviadvigatel PD-14 | turbofan | 2014 | MC-21-310 | 0.526 | 14.9 | 6840 | 67100 |
RR Trent 900 | turbofan | 2003 | A380 | 0.522[16] | 14.8 | 6900 | 67600 |
GE GE90-85B | turbofan | 777-200/200ER | 0.52[11][17] | 14.7 | 6920 | 67900 | |
GE GEnx-1B76 | turbofan | 2006 | 787-10 | 0.512[13] | 14.5 | 7030 | 69000 |
PW PW1400G | GTF | MC-21 | 0.51[18] | 14.4 | 7100 | 69000 | |
CFM LEAP-1C | turbofan | 2013 | C919 | 0.51 | 14.4 | 7100 | 69000 |
CFM LEAP-1A | turbofan | 2013 | A320neo family | 0.51[18] | 14.4 | 7100 | 69000 |
RR Trent 7000 | turbofan | 2015 | A330neo | 0.506[a] | 14.3 | 7110 | 69800 |
RR Trent 1000 | turbofan | 2006 | 787 | 0.506[b] | 14.3 | 7110 | 69800 |
RR Trent XWB-97 | turbofan | 2014 | A350-1000 | 0.478[c] | 13.5 | 7530 | 73900 |
PW 1127G | GTF | 2012 | A320neo | 0.463[13] | 13.1 | 7780 | 76300 |
Turbofan | efficiency |
---|---|
GE90 | 36.1% |
PW4000 | 34.8% |
PW2037 | 35.1% (M.87 40K) |
PW2037 | 33.5% (M.80 35K) |
CFM56-2 | 30.5% |
TFE731-2 | 23.4% |
See also
References
- ^ Specific Fuel Consumption
- ^ Supersonic Dream
- ^ "The turbofan engine", page 5. SRM University, Department of aerospace engineering
- ^ "NK33". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
- ^ "SSME". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Nathan Meier (21 Mar 2005). "Military Turbojet/Turbofan Specifications". Archived from the original on 11 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Flanker". AIR International Magazine. 23 March 2017.
- ^ a b "EJ200 turbofan engine" (PDF). MTU Aero Engines. April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kottas, Angelos T.; Bozoudis, Michail N.; Madas, Michael A. "Turbofan Aero-Engine Efficiency Evaluation: An Integrated Approach Using VSBM Two-Stage Network DEA" (PDF). doi:10.1016/j.omega.2019.102167.
- ^ a b c Élodie Roux (2007). "Turbofan and Turbojet Engines: Database Handbook" (PDF). p. 126. ISBN 9782952938013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Nathan Meier (3 Apr 2005). "Civil Turbojet/Turbofan Specifications". Archived from the original on 17 August 2021.
- ^ a b Ilan Kroo. "Data on Large Turbofan Engines". Aircraft Design: Synthesis and Analysis. Stanford University. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017.
- ^ a b c David Kalwar (2015). "Integration of turbofan engines into the preliminary design of a high-capacity short-and medium-haul passenger aircraft and fuel efficiency analysis with a further developed parametric aircraft design software" (PDF).
- ^ "Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion Web Page - TFE731".
- ^ a b Lloyd R. Jenkinson & al. (30 Jul 1999). "Civil Jet Aircraft Design: Engine Data File". Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann.
- ^ a b c d "Gas Turbine Engines" (PDF). Aviation Week. 28 January 2008. pp. 137–138.
- ^ Élodie Roux (2007). "Turbofan and Turbojet Engines: Database Handbook". ISBN 9782952938013.
- ^ a b Vladimir Karnozov (August 19, 2019). "Aviadvigatel Mulls Higher-thrust PD-14s To Replace PS-90A". AIN Online.
- ^ Ilan Kroo. "Specific Fuel Consumption and Overall Efficiency". Aircraft Design: Synthesis and Analysis. Stanford University.
External links
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