A Practical Approach to Modeling and Performance Analysis of a Turboshaft Engine Using Matlab

Abstract

Featured Application: The developed turbine engine model forms part of ongoing work on a hybrid power system for heavy-duty vehicles, including armored vehicles and tanks. In this context, the turbine will serve as a power source for electricity generation or as a supplementary component to support electric motors in generating propulsion power. This article presents a detailed approach to constructing a numerical model of a free power turbine engine specifically designed for performance analysis in the Matlab R2024b environment. The core innovation of this model lies in its integration of precise engine geometry parameters, calculated at the design point, and performance characteristics of key components such as the compressor and power turbine. These components are modeled to reflect significant variations in their performance based on changing operational conditions, including rotor speed and environmental factors. To validate the model’s assumptions, data from the PZL-3W engine were used. The model was created by meticulously incorporating the engine’s specific design characteristics, allowing for an in-depth examination of how performance characteristics shift with adjustments to high-pressure rotor settings or changes in ambient conditions. The resulting calculations demonstrated a high level of agreement between the model’s output and empirical data available for the PZL-3W engine, as well as with data found in the relevant scientific literature. This alignment underscores the model’s robustness and reliability in simulating engine performance across a range of operating scenarios, making it a valuable tool for further engineering analyses and optimization of free power turbine engines and their possible application.